afrol News, 25 January - The Federation of African Journalists has lashed at Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani’s directive to investigate the legality of the Association of Zambia (PAZA) executive committee.

FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman urged the Zambian authorities to halt incessant attacks of media saying in infringes of press freedom and rights to access information in the southern Africa state.

Mr Osman has described the government intervention on media tussle as an attempt to intimidate and control the local media.

The FAJ statement says Zambian journalists know best how to police their profession and government should not interfere in media affairs. “We fully support Zambia Union of Journalists ZUJ's position and we call on the Zambian government to stop attacking the media," it says.

The FAJ says self-regulation will strengthen Zambian media as it will show they are accountable to the public they serve and can address concern pertaining to their work.

According to the Zambian Union of Journalists (ZUJ), a FAJ affiliate, the government and the media started exchanging salvoes due a step taken by Zambian media organisations that are in the process of drafting a self-regulatory framework to set minimum standards on ethics, accuracy, personal rights while fully preserving editorial independence of the country's media.

ZUJ believes that the minister's threats are intended to deter other media organisations from supporting the self-regulation process, which is promoted by ZUJ.

The FAJ represents over 36 journalists' unions in Africa.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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