SECTOR 4

the unions, as they work in sectors, and do not represent everyone. In Zambia
union-busting is commonplace, and in many instances, contracts of media
practitioners are not renewed if it is found out that they have joined a union.
Most media houses do not provide insurance for their workers and so they can
lose out on stories. Journalists from the ZNBC were denied entry into Rwanda
by UN forces when they wanted to cover certain areas, because they didn’t
have insurance coverage. “I don’t understand why media institutions don’t get
group insurance for their staff, especially considering the conditions under which
journalists work.”
The unions are concerned by “the level of harassment, especially as witnessed
lately from the cadres”, and are working on ways to address the safety of
journalists.

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:

2.3
(2011:2.0; 2009:2.2; 2007:n/a; 2005:n/a)

4.4 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests.
Zambia has several unions in media organisations. At the ZNBC, the union
“appreciates journalism as a noble profession, and therefore bargains for
conditions of service for these workers. We can’t take for granted the people
involved in the production of news”. In 2010, the ZNBC’s union “broke a record”
by dissolving the entire board of directors and senior managers because of
mismanagement.
Other unions include the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information
Disseminators (ZUBID); and the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), which
comprises mostly journalists from the Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2013

63

Select target paragraph3