MISA Zambia Access to Information Ambassador, Reverend Suzanne
Matale, has officially announced the Early Warning Notification System (EWNS)
which is a systematic way of collecting information in good time to avert the
increasing violations against media houses and journalists especially in the
build up to the August 11 polls and thereafter.
Rev Matale says the system template aims to gather information every time there is a violation or threat of violation against a media house or journalist by collecting specific information such as the Reporting Entity, Details of the Person, Reporting Date, Nature of Incident and the basic details of the incident.
She says as part of the system, a Whatsapp and email group for all media houses and one dedicated mobile hotline, 0979 580451, have been put in place to capture all data sent out on a 24/7 basis.
“We have also put in place a provisional national media contact list covering media houses in all the provinces for easy monitoring,” she says.
Reverend Matale has since called on all journalists to rise and
stand as a united force to defeat the many infringements witnessed daily
against the press especially at such a time when the media play a very critical
role.
She also urged media houses to put aside their differences and
focus on the common cause of media freedom, which is fast deteriorating.
Reverend Matale stated that today it may be another media house or journalist under attack but that it is only a matter of time before other media houses are besieged or persecuted.
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