DW TV BEHAVIOR IRKS AMBASSADOR

By Mwila Nsofu:Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany, Anthony Mukwita has cautioned foreign media against using ‘pedestrian’ experts that make alarming and damaging statements about Zambia.Mr. Mukwita has also advised interviewers to challenge guests that make allegations with the potential to injure a country’s image to demonstrate the basis of their claims.Mr. Mukwita was reacting to an interview German Television DW conducted with a Chiponda Chimbelu that discussed the question of Konkola Copper Mines, KCM and the legal actions taken by the Zambian government.Mr. Chimbelu believed to be a Zambian by origin claimed that the Zambian government was cash-strapped hence the reason it commended action to liquidate KCM, as a shareholder contrary to the facts given by President Edgar Lungu when he announced the legal route.This is not the first time DW is quoiting an ‘offside’ analyst regarding important Zambian issues without seeking a Zambian comment from the Embassy in Berlin or indeed Lusaka.Recently, another DW story in which they were quoting Nick Branson identified as a Senior Africa Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft went on air without the side of the Zambian government as required by basic journalism standards.Mr. Mukwita said such remarks smack of ‘an agenda’ intended to control and direct the narrative, adding, “they are also misleading, inflammatory and injurious to Zambia’s international image.”He said that given the seriousness of the remarks, the basic standards of fairness in journalism demanded that the views are balanced with a voice from Zambia’s government.Mr. Mukwita said the Zambian government has in the past only borrowed for production and not consumption as can be seen through the sprouting of infrastructure countrywide.Mr. Mukwia dismissed as farfetched and imaginary the conclusion that government decided to take over the operations of KCM to raise money to pay debts saying the action was taken to forestall the perennial poor management of the company by Vedanta ResourcesHe further dismissed the notion of a looming nationalisation of the mining sector saying there was no such policy by the government of President Edgar Lungu saying, “such a policy exists only in the minds of pedestrian commentators.”Mr. Mukwita recently visited DW at their Berlin offices and met Director General Peter Limbourg who was in the company of Managing Director Ms. Gelder Moyer, Head of Africa Programs Mr. Claus Stacker and Media and Public Affairs Officer Mr. Benjamin RietdorfThis is according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Berlin , Germany , Kellys Kaunda. Post Views: 9
News Source: ZNBC