Opinion: When Did VJ Become Champion Of Media Freedom?

Does it not strike anyone as strange that Vernon Johnson Mwaanga should all of a sudden emerge as a champion of media freedom and the finest of the tenets of democracy? VJ, as he is widely known, has become a darling of the media often spouting textbook definitions of the finest of democratic practices and the best of political practices.

Nothing wrong with the once upon a time high flying diplomat and top notch politician but maybe before the media launders VJ they should do a little audit of part of his anti media and democratic credentials.

Lest anyone forgets VJ once served as Information Minister under the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and his record cannot be said to have been without blemish. While his record at the Times of Zambia as Managing Director in the Kaunda regime where the paper occasionally stood up to the mighty of the system is commendable, there is no prizes for guessing how much of a pain he became to the private media once he was information minister.

The shameless culture of only spouting pro Mwanawasa propaganda continued under his watch. Perhaps the most chilling anti media stunt he pulled was his attempt to close the country’s signature private radio station Radio Phoenix for the manner they fearlessly conducted their Let The People Talk program.

VJ was on Radio Phoenix’s case until its then owner Erol Hickey had to buck down on his independent stance. Yet today VJ postures himself as a friend of free media that he often gets unfettered coverage on Radio Phoenix and other related media.

Is this not the man that was fired by Levy Mwanawasa twice for crossing the line? In the post 2001 election period, Mwanawasa had appointed VJ in his government but the latter was caught cutting deals under the cover of darkness with the opposition promising the late Anderson Mazoka a nonexistent prime minister position. With that Mwanawasa had to fire him. The man was later again given an opportunity after the 2006 elections but was again fired after having (mis)represented the government position on the then differences with then Katanga governor Moise Katumbi.

Without having to crucify the new found Mr Clean at least by acres of media coverage he is getting, we should perhaps freely put him on the spot. Who can forget his flirtation with drugs when he even had a long stint in jail under the infamous mandrax scandal?

So while VJ can freely go about expressing his views, the veteran diplomat might as well be put to the sword by the gospel he preaches. Do they not say those that seek equity should come with clean hands? VJ’s hands ought to be without blemish lest we mistake him for the grand emperor.

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