GOVT TO INTERVENE IN LOW SALARIES OF JOURNALISTS

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Posted by admin on May 4, 2026 at 12:07 PM

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Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa has pledged Government’s intervention into the issue of low salaries for journalists, particularly in the private media sector.
Mweetwa said the media is largely private-driven, hence the need to establish a minimum wage for journalists to safeguard integrity and dignity in the profession.
“This may need governmental intervention because the media is largely private-driven,” he said. “I think it is possible, it is not impossible. We shall look at this. This Government is committed to the welfare of the media.”
Speaking during World Press Freedom Day commemorations, Mweetwa emphasized Government’s commitment to the safety of media practitioners, warning that no one who perpetuates violence against journalists will escape the law.
He condemned the recent harassment of a journalist in Lusaka, stressing that every journalist’s safety matters to President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration.
The Minister assured that the media will continue to operate freely without interference, while urging professional journalists to protect the industry from unqualified entrants.
He also raised concern over professional misconduct in some media houses, saying the media shapes the future of the country and must uphold high standards.
Mweetwa thanked the media for supporting him since his appointment and expressed gratitude to President Hichilema for the privilege of working with the sector.