Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has warned media houses that continue to publish false reports of parliamentary proceedings.
This is arising from false reports published in the Zambia Daily Mail and The Post in reference to the deportation of Lundazi Catholic priest Father Viateur Banyangadora.
Dr Matibini, who is a PF and Post stooge, said media houses that continue to report falsehoods risk being barred from covering the proceedings of the house and its committees.
He further warned that erring media houses also risk being subjected to criminal proceedings under section 25c of the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act.
The Zambia Daily Mail of October 18, 2012 quoted Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu wrongly as aying that the deportation of Lundazi Catholic Priest Father Vetoir Banyangandora was necessitated by grave misconduct.
Delivering ruling on a point order raised by Kalomo Member of Parliament Request Muntanga on October 31, 2012 on a story published in the Post Newspapers of October 25, 2012 quoting the Catholic Lundazi Parish executive stating the Minister’s reasons for the deportation of the Priest were false, Dr Matibini advised the media to carefully verify information with appropriate authorities prior to publication.
Dr Matibini has also advised members of the public who write to the National Assembly seeking its intervention in a matter to desist from publishing their correspondence before they have received a response from the National Assembly.
He said the National assembly will not entertain any correspondence that has been widely publicized by its authors.
This follows the Lundazi Catholic Parish’s decision to avail its correspondence to the Speaker to the Post Newspapers.