MISA Exposes Media Gaps

Community Radio Urged to Prioritise Disability-Inclusive Programming

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka, Zambia24 -  (June 26, 2025) —

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has called on broadcasters, media regulators, and government stakeholders to take urgent action to make community radio programming more inclusive of persons with disabilities.

Speaking during the official dissemination of a new research report supported by UNESCO, MISA Zambia National Director Austin Kayanda said the media continues to marginalise persons with disabilities despite existing national and international legal protections.

“The right of persons with disabilities to access, participate in, and shape the media that speaks for and about them has remained largely neglected,” Kayanda said.

 “Legal and policy commitments alone are not enough. The gap between policy and practice is far too wide.”

The report, based on a desk review and supported by UNESCO’s Disability-Inclusive Media Manual, assessed disability representation across Zambia’s community radio landscape. It found five major barriers:

1. Underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in radio programming

2. Inaccessible infrastructure at most stations

3. Limited training in disability-sensitive reporting

4. Weak collaboration between media houses and disability organisations

5. Absence of internal policies promoting disability inclusion

Kayanda cited personal experience working with girls with disabilities in Ndola who were previously locked away at home due to superstition. 

“During my time as president of a disability home, we supported over 500 girls. Five graduated from university. One became a lawyer and served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice. All they needed was opportunity,” he said.

He emphasised that media institutions must become the voice for the voiceless and build systems that promote inclusive participation. “We’re not asking for a favour — we’re demanding rights. Inclusion is about access, production, leadership, and ownership of media content.”

MISA Zambia is now calling on:

The Ministry of Information and Media to revise the national media policy and include disability-inclusive broadcasting strategies;

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to incorporate disability considerations into licensing conditions;

Community radio stations to improve infrastructure and editorial inclusion;

Media training institutions to embed disability studies in curricula;

Donors and development partners to fund pilot projects and support long-term capacity building.

Kayanda urged the media to stop treating disability as a side issue. “Let this report not be another document that gathers dust. Let it be a catalyst for reform and a guide to making our media truly reflective of society,” he said.

The event was attended by radio station managers, disability advocates, journalists, and government officials.

UNESCO, which supported the report, reaffirmed its commitment to helping Zambia achieve a more inclusive media landscape.

"An inclusive media is not only fair — it is richer, more vibrant, and more representative of us all," Kayanda concluded.