Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa has commended the Technical Working Group for formulating the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Layman’s Bills that reflect government’s agenda to grow a free and professional media.

Mr Mweetwa also commended the team for prioritising stakeholder consultation in the formulation of the Layman’s Bills.

He said in a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, during the presentation of the IBA and ZNBC draft Layman’s Bills by the Technical Working Group at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

He stressed the need for citizen participation as this is consistent with government’s open door policy that ensures citizens participate fully in the affairs of the country.

Mr Mweetwa explained that the proposed repeal and replacement of the ZNBC Act shows that government is on its way to take back the national asset into the hands of the ZambianS.

the Layman’s Bills to the Ministry of Justice for legal drafting, adding that the Bills will later be submitted to Cabinet for approval en route to Parliament.

And speaking at the same event, Ministry of Information and Media Director for Press and Public Relations, Modern Mayembe said the IBA Act has faced some implementation challenges since its enactment over a decade ago.

“Some of the challenges are that there is lack of legal provision to regulate ZNBC as a State broadcaster by the IBA, lack of legal provision on the Free to Air television service and a gap in the regulatory framework for online broadcasting,” he said.

He also said there is need to provide for legal enforcements in line with the Digital Migration Policy in the Bills.

Mr Mayembe said the rationale for the proposed repeal and replacement of the ZNBC Act is to designate ZNBC as a public service broadcaster, owned and funded by the public.

He also thanked Mr Mweetwa for continued policy guidance in the development of the media sector.