By NAMO PHIRI
THE Media Owners Association of Zambia (MOAZ) has condemned the barbaric and inhumane beating of Lovemore Phiri, a Petauke journalist by suspected UPND cadres.
This is in a case where Mr. Phiri was beaten by suspected UPND cadres on Friday when he was anchoring a live radio programme that was discussing farmers’ preparedness for the 2022/23 farming season.
The cadres who forced their way into the on-air studio beat up Mr Phiri and caused damages to the studio equipment, resulting in the radio station going off-air.
MOAZ President Evans Banda said in a statement that it was unfortunate that journalists had continued to face political violence and harassment from political cadres despite the government and media owners advocating for media freedom.
He said journalists are the fourth estate who are committed to ensuring that the nation was informed on national matters and should therefore operate in a free and conducive environment free of interference and intimidation.
Mr Banda urged the Zambia Police Service, all Zambians and media associations as well as the government, to ensure that the media freedom policy is actualised and implemented.
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