SECTOR 1

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

3.0
(2011:3.9; 2009:3.1; 2007:4.3; 2005:3.9)

1.11 Media legislation evolves from meaningful consultations among state institutions, citizens and interest groups.
Little consultation on media legislation takes place, and where it does, the process
is not very meaningful. “There is no meaningful consultation – just window
dressing.”
When amendments were made to the ZNBC and IBA Acts, various media bodies
were ‘consulted’ on the legislation. “But when it went to parliament, nothing was
adopted, but they still put on the names of these media groups.”
Citizens and interest groups are drawn into the process of creating/revising media
legislation, but their recommendations are hardly ever incorporated into the
legislation. “They’re just legitimising the process, but with no impact.” Members
of the committee working on the ATI Bill are not updated on the progress of
this draft law, but have been told that it is ready to go to parliament, “and at
end of day, their names will be shown on the document, even if they were not
meaningfully involved”.
The migration policy has been rejected by the private sector “because there was
so much consultation, but the policy does not reflect what was said. Their views
were not taken on board. The consultations were just window-dressing.”

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2013

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