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Ezra Chiloba the Communications Authority Director General has weighed in on the decision of the High Court to suspend the censure of six TV stations for covering Monday’s Azimio demos.
In a statement on Friday, Chiloba said the CA’s intentions were taken out of context.
“Having observed the debate following the issuance of our notice, it is clear that our intervention has been taken out of context,” Chiloba said.
He noted that it was the Authority’s mandate to issue advisories to the on their broadcasting obligations especially during serious political events.
This, he said, is in tandem with the Constitution Statute and the Programming Code.
Chiloba said they issued such notices during the August 2022 general elections and in the context of the March 20 protests.
The court on Friday suspended the censure directive following a suit filed by Katiba Institute.
Chiloba said CA will respond to the issues raised once served with the court order.
“The Authority reiterates its commitment to promote and protect freedom of the media at all times in accordance with the Constitution,” he said.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chiloba said media’s coverage of Azim,io demonstrations on Maarch 20 depicted scenes that could cause panic or incitement to the public, and threaten peace and cohesion in the country.
He listed KBC TV, K24, Ebru TV, TV47, NTV and Citizen Tv as having violated the Programming Code.
Katiba Institute, however, argued that CA had unconstitutionally and illegally censured the TV stations.
Justice J Chigiti granted leave to the Institute to file the judicial review seeking to stop the censure.
The case will be mentioned on May 10 for further directions.