By Mubanga Mubanga
Academician Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa says the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) only complained to Hot FM over his ethnic appointments remarks after Presidential spokesperson Clayson Hamasaka called the Radio Station to complain.
But State House Chief Communications analyst Hamasaka dismissed Dr Sishuwa’s claim that his phone call to Hot FM necessitated the IBA complaint to the radio station.
The IBA wrote Hot FM on October 13, 2023 that they monitored the programme featuring Dr Sishuwa which aired on October 11, 2023 with concern by the moderator’s failure to adequately manage the programme, which they said resulted in the guest making assertions without being challenged and guided by the moderator.
IBA took issue with Dr Sishuwa’s remarks that he was disappointed with the failure to reflect ethnic diversity in public appointments, which undermines the constitutional requirement on equality for opportunities, but also that there was a growing perception that Hichilema appears to see himself primarily as leader of Zambia’s one half of the country, mainly where the UPND has been doing well electorally.
The IBA was unhappy with remarks to the effect that the quiet but ongoing marginalization of some Zambians, including civil servants who trace their origins from the other half of the country, has not helped the situation.
IBA stated that during the same programme, Dr Sishuwa said that the Lungu presidency marginalized people from Southern, Western and North-Western provinces that voted for Hichilema and promoted those who had supported him from Eastern and Bemba-speaking provinces, and that despite Hichilema promising to do things differently, he has reversed that pattern.
IBA stated that these assertions have potential to cause disunity in the country and thus needed adequate probing and guidance by the moderator.
But Hot FM argued that the interview was conducted in a very professional manner.
Speaking to the complaints from IBA, Dr Sishuwa indicated the sequence of events which he said first started with a complaint from Hamasaka, later led to IBA joining into the fray.
“Hot FM featured me on its flagship Red Hot Breakfast Show where I shared my opinion on the state of governance and human rights in #Zambia today. On Thursday, Clayson Hamasaka, the spokesperson of President @HHichilema contacted the leading private radio station to complain and protest,” wrote Dr Sishuwa. “On Friday, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), Zambia’s broadcasting regulator, got involved. In a written warning to Hot FM, the IBA stated that my “assertions [on the programme] have the potential to cause disunity in the country”! For those interested, here is the full recording of the interview.”
But Hamasaka said he does not even know, neither has he even met acting IBA director general Eustace Nkandu to have influenced the authority to complain to Hot FM.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t have Hot FM broadcast lines, hence I have never phoned Hot FM radio in my life. I have a very close relationship with Oscar Chavula and I regularly visit him at his office or we meet whenever we have to, As a matter of fact, I was at his office barely a month ago like I usually do and discussed a number of issues like we always do,” Hamasaka said. “We all know the basic rules of journalism. You Patson has regular access to me and you can even prove going by the Nawakwi story in this same publication. One of your reporters called me yesterday and I promptly answered as correctly quoted. Why didn’t you get my side of story over Sishuwa?”
He also said he has never called the radio station to complain about the recent interview they had with Dr Sishuwa, saying he infact enjoys good relations with Hot FM’s Oscar Chavula.
“That was me and Oscar on 13th September 2023 (referring to the picture on this story). Please don’t wage enmity between us. We come a long way. I didn’t even listen to the alleged broadcast and have no idea about those letters flying around. Would you believe that actually I have never met the IBA management since we came into office, equally I have never met ZNBC management,” argued Hamasaka.
