Sata Battling to Crash Watchdog, Zambia Reports On July 22, 2013 Zambia Reports carried a report highlighting manouvers by President Michael Sata’s intelligence system moving in to block social networks Facebook and Twitter after realising that articles published on the blocked websites and that on Zambian Watchdog were still filtering through for domestic consumption. Six months later, the presence of Zambian Watchdog and Zambia Reports is increasing on Facebook and this is causing further discomfort in the Patriotic Front government. The two websites are blocked from access inside Zambia and only a few with advanced gadgets are able to read them through proxy websites while the rest of the people rely on feeds published through Facebook. Yesterday, a top Sata official announced the plot to completely shatter the two website was on-going and in full gear. Transport and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said they are working with the Zambia Information and Communications Authority (ZICTA) to cripple online media. He said he prefers that the online media report positive things about government. Although there are some excess in media outlets Zambia Reports have reported professionally on events in the country though most of the articles and information published unsettles the faltering PF government. So far some citizens have been highly critical of government’s heavy push for registration of sim cards in league with ZICTA without advancing very clear reasons. “Of late we have seen a lot of things published by the online media that are very negative because they put anything,” Mukanga said. “We have to find ways of controlling them and change because it is tarnishing the image of our country.” The PF has struggled to clamp down on online media after their efforts to close them down proved ineffective given the advances in technology. With the three government institutions Times of Zambia, Daily Mail, ZNBC and the formerly independent Post Newspaper all chanting slogans for the ruling party, the online media has emerged as the only option of alternative news. Below is an article published in July by Zambia Reports on blocking Facebook and Twitter President Michael Sata’s parallel intelligence system is moving to block social networks Facebook and Twitter after realising that stories on blocked websites, Zambian Watchdog and Zambia Reports, are now filtering through the two media for domestic consumption. And the Xavier Chungu-led parallel intelligence is targeting a third internet based media channel, Crossfire Blogtalk Radio, for possible blocking after it continued airing guests critical of the Patriotic Front government. The decision to study the blocking of Facebook and Twitter, according to sources, follows Zambian Watchdog and Zambia Reports’ decision to activate their respective facebook pages on which the stories President Sata does not want Zambians to access and read are being fed onto the domestic market. The ordinary access to Zambian Watchdog and Zambia Reports for the domestic market was blocked last week although some locals are still able to access through advanced devices or proxy websites. A team comprising the trusted intelligence system of Zamtrop mastermind Xaveir Chungu, which is independent of the main established body, was last week dispatched to Russia for a consultative process on the possibilities of blocking facebook and twitter. President Sata is reportedly incensed that the stories he is denying Zambians to access are now all over on facebook and twitter with a growing following whose impact threatens his hold on power. According to the sources, the blocking of Zambian Watchdog and Zambia Reports is also being used as a pilot project to block all form of social sites during the 2016 presidential and parliamentary by-elections. The plan is expected to be in full force during the 2016 general elections when mobile communication and radio signal will be heavily compromised to facilitate rigging and installation of President Sata or his General Secretary Wynter Kabimba back in office on a rigged elections. Intelligence sources are equally frustrated that they are being made to carry out excessive monitoring of citizens as well as breaching fundamental human rights of free speech. Apparently, there is total disagreement within the ranks with regards to the ongoing assault on the media and those that have dared question the development are being sidelined for possible firing. The intelligence officers who spoke on anonymity request warned that Zambians should brace for tough times ahead because the co-operation between Sata and Zimbabwe’s leader Robert Mugabe is not healthy for the country. Meanwhile, Crossfire Blog producer Mueti Moomba has disclosed that his channel has suffered the worst form of victimization under the PF government. The internet radio initially supplied feed to Zambezi Fm in Livingstone, YAR Fm in Kitwe and Flava Fm in Kitwe but two of those station had been cowed into submission. “2 [two] of these pulled out after being threatened. Only Flava Fm has continued & we know they are being pushed about it. On Tuesday they could not link to us,” he fears. About attempts to block internet listeners to access the feed, he said; “we got about 150 messages from listeners in Zambia saying they could not listen to the show thru website.” zambiareports/2014/01/15/sata-battling-to-crash-zambian-watchdog-zambia-reports/
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 06:30:14 +0000