You will need The Mast, Msoni advises UPND

You will need The Mast, Msoni advises UPND

 By Mast Reporter

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) will not survive next year after losing elections without a free press and independent media houses, All People’s Congress (APC) president Nason Msoni has said.

Commenting on the continued threats by UPND cadres targeting The Mast editors, Msoni said in fact, UPND would need the privately owned newspaper much more than anyone else to answer to corruption and abuse of office crimes its leaders and members would face next year after losing the general elections.

He reminded the UPND that the coverage it receiving today from government-owned newspapers, television and radio stations as well as ruling party-aligned private publications would soon be a thing of the past.

“I just want to remind the UPND to think through. Let them ask previous government leaders what happens when one loses power. The publicity they receive now will not be there in the manner they are enjoying it. In fact, they will ran to the independent and private media house for coverage,” Msoni said.

He said it would be unwise and unreasonable for the UPND to scheme to shut down the media house and harm the editors at The Mast today.

Msoni said fighting the media would not help the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema to respond to allegations of corruption, abuse of human rights and other unconstitutional decisions they were making now.

“In fact, it is unreasonable for the UPND to start this war. They will need the same newspapers next year after losing elections. The UPND should learn lessons from previous administrations whose anger and hunger to shut down the media became a danger and regrettable route for them to have taken,” he said.

“Today some of the leaders in the previous administration are surviving using the same media houses they once shut down when they had power. If you asked me what is this with whole thing, I will say it is a foolish scheme by unreasonable individuals.”

The ruling party, using the Facebook page UPND Zambia, has continued attacking and threatening the editors of The Mast accusing the publication of being critical of government and President Hakainde Hichilema.

Msoni said the threats against the media would not end the country’s high levels of poverty, injustices, hooliganism, unemployment and bad governance.

He said it was shocking that the UPND, using its various social media platforms, had singled out The Mast and Hot FM Radio editors and reporters threatening them with unspecified action.

“What is more concerning is the silence by Mr Hakainde Hichilema about these threats targeted at the media. He calls himself a friend of the media and a free press, but people are asking why is he silent about these open threats?” Msoni wondered.

He said all the UPND wanted was to silence every critical voice.

Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa was unreachable for a comment on the continued harassment of journalists by the UPND while his permanent secretary Thabo Kawana’s phone went unanswered.