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With generous support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the IWMF launched "Reporting on Agriculture and Women: Africa." The project is energizing the way African media cover one of the most important topics on the continent.
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IWMF Petition on Behalf of Zambian Journalist Chansa Kabwela

August 5, 2009

Zambia State House
President Rupiah Banda

Dear President Banda:

We are writing on behalf of the International Women’s Media Foundation to express our alarm concerning Zambian journalist Chansa Kabwela, who is facing charges of circulating obscene materials.

Kabwela, news editor for The Post in Zambia, was arrested on July 15 for circulating photographs of a woman giving birth without medical aid outside the University Teaching Hospital, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The photos were taken by the woman’s husband, who gave them to The Post because he believed that what happened should not happen to others. Editors decided the pictures were too graphic for publication but felt it important to raise awareness among government and civic leaders about the human impact of a strike at the hospital. So on June 10, Kabwela sent the photos with a letter to the vice president, the minister of health, the cabinet secretary, the archbishop of Lusaka, and two civil society groups, urging that the hospital strike be settled.

Kabwela pleaded not guilty and is currently free on bail, but the next hearing for her case is scheduled for August 5.

The IWMF calls for the charges against Kabwela to be dismissed and urges Zambian authorities to investigate so that Kabwela can continue her work. Kabwela was simply doing her job as a reporter; she was not circulating obscene materials as the charges against her state. We are concerned that the charges signal more restrictions on free expression and press freedom in Zambia. All viewpoints should be allowed to be expressed in the media without force or coercion from authorities.

As a network of thousands of women and men in the media around the world who are supporters of a worldwide free press, we respectfully urge you to take immediate action to ensure that Kabwela is allowed to safely carry out her professional work. By using your power to ensure that justice is done in this case, you will take a step toward establishing a free and independent press in Zambia.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Akwe Amosu, co-chair
Campbell Brown, co-chair

cc: Southern African Development Community Secretariat
SADC House
Private Bag 0095
Gaborone
Botswana
Fax: +267 397 2848

The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
2419 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: (202) 332- 0826

Media Institute of Southern Africa
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Fax: +264 61 248016

Comments

Deborah Howell

Wednesday, August 05, 2009 6:37 PM

Please dismiss the charges against Chansa Kabwela!

Khairuzzaman Kamal, www.bmsf-bd.org

Thursday, August 06, 2009 1:21 AM

On behalf Bangladeshi Journalists community we demanded free of Zambian Journalist Chansa Kabwela

Namutowe

Friday, August 07, 2009 2:55 AM

Please dismiss the bogus charges against this journalist Chansa Kabwela, she was just doing her job

Wiz chihotta

Friday, August 07, 2009 8:39 AM

THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDDRESS IN THE COUNTRY THAN THIS ARREST.

mupepe aurelie

Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:42 AM

Chansa Kabwela doit etre liberée, il n ya pas d'autres alternatives

Lango Deen

Monday, August 10, 2009 11:20 AM

I wonder if the Zambian authorities have seen the award-winning photographs taken of the deplorable conditions at my native Sierra Leone's Princess Christian Maternity Hospital? To improve maternal and child health in Africa, everyday people and reporters need to tell the world their stories.

Simba

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:53 AM

She did her part and she is a true humanitarian. Now I ask the President to be a President for the people, and for him to attend to urgent matters like the dwindling health care problem. And while he is at it, arrest the individuals at the hospital, who refused to give proper medical care to the poor woman in labour. She lost a child, that is a human life that could have been saved. This is pure neglegence. Health Minister, Vice President & Mr Rupia Banada and all Organisations Chansa Kabwela had informed of this incidence, pick yourselves up and start doing your jobs. Release the poor girl as she did absolutely nothing wrong. Pick on someone your own size and stop trying to use her as an example. Stop the intimidation and power abuse! Last I checked Mr Rupia Banada "Pornography" = Pornography or porn is the depiction of explicit sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual excitement. I doubed very much that Chansa Kabwela was trying to arouse anyone sexually with those photo's and you all know it. She was only trying to alert you guys because someone somewhere was not doing their job! She is a "Hero".

vida

Thursday, September 17, 2009 2:46 PM

The world needs to see the truth.

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IWMF Petition on Behalf of Zambian Journalist Chansa Kabwela

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