Kennedy wrote, "Attacks on journalists must be condemned every time they appear whether the affected are from MUVI, ZNBC, Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, MOBI, TBN or indeed the Daily Nation.
"Eleven days ago, I and Francesca Banda were attacked and none of the so called media bodies raised even a finger not even the so called MISA. Eleven days later other journalists are attacked by the same group, then it's all hell break loose, we hear the so called media bodies exhibit double standards, a wrong is a wrong. It's my opinion".
Kennedy's outburst come in the wake of an attack, in which he was severely beaten with fists, stones and sticks by about twenty people suspected to be members of the ruling Patriotic Front(PF).
They met their fate as they were pursuing a story involving the governing party cadres' alleged grabbing of land in the capital from an old defenceless man. Ironically, the attack on the Journalists received no attention from the existing media bodies. Not even a statement to condemn what transpired.
However, eleven days later, another set of journalists are attacked and well punctuated statements from the respective media bodies floods almost all newsrooms in the country.
Well, what conclusion could a journalist in Kennedy's entourage make about such a development? Kennedy's opinion is a clear call for media bodies to be proactive and not reactive/selective in the pursuit of a free media in Zambia.
Additionally, the media bodies should inspire defenceless Journalists with the provision of legal representation in the courts of law once such matters are taken to them instead of just talking and letting reporters pursue such cases using their own resources.
Time and again, some courageous people have criticized the armchair style of leadership prevailing in most of our media bodies. They seem to be pre-occupied with making empty statements without providing a clear roadmap on how the media fraternity should engage the stakeholders in ending the incessant attacks on journalists.
As the case was with their disposed colleagues, the MMD, the Patriotic Front (PF) Members seem to be falling prey to land grabbing. And in defence of such barbaric practices, they allegedly find pleasure in inflicting pain on the people working to expose their undemocratic acts.
While journalists will remain an endangered species world-over, the manner in which they are protected by those claiming to stand for their rights should be more in reality than in theory.
The culture of selective representation is, to say, the least, demeaning on the part of the affected Journalists and their respective media houses.
Source: allAfrica
