CIC Deploys Media Team to Southern Province

 

As Kawana Urges Journalists to Balance Rights with Responsibility

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka,  Zambia24  -- July 22, 2026  — The Communications and Information Centre (CIC) has expanded its media outreach programme by deploying a team of journalists to Southern Province to provide comprehensive coverage of President Hakainde Hichilema’s working visits and community engagements.

The deployment, which was officially flagged off in Lusaka by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, is aimed at strengthening news coverage by ensuring that journalists are strategically positioned across different locations where presidential activities will take place.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Kawana said CIC had grown from a small media initiative into an important platform for improving access to information and enhancing coverage of national programmes.

He said the decision to send a larger team of journalists was informed by the need to improve efficiency, broaden coverage and reduce pressure on a limited number of media personnel who often have to move between multiple locations during major assignments.

Mr. Kawana explained that having several teams on the ground would allow journalists to cover different events simultaneously while reducing the risks associated with travelling long distances between assignments.

He recalled that journalists had previously been exposed to road safety risks while moving from one assignment to another, including incidents involving serious accidents, and said the new approach would help promote safer working conditions for media practitioners.

The Permanent Secretary said the deployment would also help ensure that communities in different parts of Southern Province receive balanced coverage of government programmes and presidential engagements.

“Instead of having one or two crews on the ground, it is important to distribute journalists across the province so that coverage is fair, comprehensive and nothing important is missed,” Mr. Kawana said.

He also used the occasion to address concerns surrounding journalists and the application of the law, saying press freedom must be exercised alongside responsibility.

Mr. Kawana said journalists, like all citizens, are expected to operate within the confines of the law and should not use their profession as protection against accountability.

He said breaking the law and later describing enforcement action as an attack on press freedom undermines the principles of responsible journalism.

“Whether you are a journalist or not, the law applies equally to everyone,” Mr. Kawana said.

However, he reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting press freedom, saying authorities would defend journalists whenever their rights were genuinely violated.

Mr. Kawana said a free media remains essential to democracy and accountability, adding that the government recognises the important role journalists play in informing citizens.

He further stated that no media house had been closed by the current administration, describing this as a demonstration of its commitment to media freedom.

Meanwhile, CIC Director Roy Makayi urged journalists assigned to Southern Province to uphold professionalism and maintain high ethical standards throughout their work.

Mr. Makayi said the media remains a key source of information for the public and carries the responsibility of providing accurate, fair and credible reporting.

He encouraged journalists to approach their assignments with integrity, discipline and respect for the communities they serve.

Mr. Makayi reminded the media team that their reporting should be guided by truth, accuracy and the national interest, as they represent the journalism profession in their interactions with the public.

He wished the team success and safe travels as they embarked on their assignment.

The CIC media outreach programme is expected to enhance coverage of national activities by increasing the presence of journalists on the ground and improving access to information for citizens.