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Students discuss political influence on media rights, freedom of expression, digital rights (video)

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Amid the whirlwind of political battles in cyberspace, Elizabeth Nkuna, a grade twelve pupil at Hillside Girls Secondary School in Chipata district, reflects on how the political environment affects media freedom and freedom of expression in the country.

While acknowledging the presence of media freedom in Zambia, Nkuna highlighted how politics often hinders media professionals.

“Media freedom exists in Zambia, but there are still situations where individuals don’t have the freedom they deserve, often due to political interference. People politicize what journalists report,” Nkuna stated.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Eastern Province, Nkuna, also the school’s Head Girl, emphasized that mainstream media often neglected coverage of marginalized groups such as the downtrodden, the differently abled, and rural communities.

“It’s challenging, especially in rural areas where not everyone has access to TV, radio, or phones. Consequently, many people lack information,” she explained.

Nkuna also noted that while some individuals fearlessly express themselves, others abuse this freedom by exaggerating or spreading misinformation.

“Unfortunately, some people exploit media freedom, crossing the line and exaggerating facts,” she said.

However, she added that fear of reprisal prevented some from expressing their opinions on government matters.

“Some individuals are afraid to voice their opinions on political issues or criticize the government due to fear of repercussions,” she explained.

Moreover, Nkuna expressed concern about the lack of awareness regarding media freedom and expression in the country.

“Some people are unaware of their right to voice their opinions or raise concerns about their well-being and national issues,” she stressed.

She also criticized the effectiveness of the Cybersecurity Act, noting that abusive comments persist on social media platforms despite its existence.

“Even simple posts attract negative comments, impacting the poster adversely,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Grace Banda, a grade twelve house prefect at the same school, voiced concerns about the moral content on social media, suggesting that the Cybersecurity Act fails to adequately address moral corruption.

She urged the government to implement stronger policies to protect journalists and media owners.

“The government should enact stronger measures to safeguard individuals who express their views on government issues without fear or intimidation,” Banda emphasized.

Additionally, Banda highlighted how government scrutiny often determines the relevance of community issues, posing a barrier to freedom of expression.
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Students discuss political influence on media rights, freedom of expression, digital rights.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

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Video: Nigerian Afrobeats star Adekunle Gold tells sickle cell story

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In this interview, Kenyan journalist, Larry Madowo, speaks to Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold, on living with sickle cell disease and his new mission to create awareness. The Afrobeats star explains why he believes the time is now to use his voice to make a difference for those battling the condition.

About 80% of sickle cell patients are in Africa. Nigeria has the largest population of people living with the condition in the world. Around 5% of people on the planet are carriers of trait genes linked to haemoglobin diseases, primarily thalassemia and sickle-cell disease and more than 300,000 newborns with serious haemoglobin abnormalities every year.

“I just got the courage to share my story because many people can share their stories as I can…”

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Video: ‘History will judge you harshly’, South Africa’s far-left opposition accuses ruling ANC

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In his speech in reaction to the parliamentary coalition which brought President Cyril Ramphosa back as president, Julius Sello Malema, who  is the leader of the populist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), explained that his party’s disagreement with working with the ruling ANC is aimed at contesting “the betrayal of South Africans”

Out of the 400 seats in the recently elected National Assembly, 246 are held by the ANC and DA, sufficient for the formation of a coalition government.

“We contested because we wanted to demonstrate to South Africa that we did not agree with the marriage of convenience to consolidate the white monopoly power to dominate the economy and the means of production in South Africa. This marriage seeks to undermine the changing of property relations in South Africa. We refused to sell out, we had never done so when we were young and we are not going to do so today.

“We are going to ensure that this parliament is functional, we can reassure you that we will not fight with any bouncer, we are going to be the best opposition that is going to ensure that both you and the DA (Democratic Alliance) are healed accountable. This is not a government of national unity, this is a great partnership between the ANC and the white monopolistic party.

“History will judge you and judge you harshly!”

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