The new Information and Media Minister has asked staff to work together on public communication, while Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana outlined broadcasting reforms awaiting commencement.
Key takeaways
- Elvis Nkandu wants the ministry to extend access to information about Government policies and programmes.
- He called for cooperation with staff and wider public understanding of the Grow Zambia agenda.
- Thabo Kawana said replacement IBA and ZNBC legislation was awaiting commencement orders and recommended detailed briefings.
- The ministry’s account sets out priorities but gives no new outreach budget, coverage targets or implementation timetable.
LUSAKA. Newly appointed Information and Media Minister Elvis Nkandu has called for closer cooperation among management and staff to ensure Government information reaches more Zambians.
Speaking when he was welcomed to the ministry, Nkandu said citizens should receive information about Government policies, programmes and priorities, according to an account published by the Ministry of Information and Media.
He asked the ministry to consider effective ways of extending its reach across the country and said every Zambian should have the opportunity to understand and participate in the Grow Zambia agenda.
Teamwork and a wider public audience
Nkandu said he wanted a cordial working relationship with management and staff. Despite his familiarity with the media sector, he acknowledged the need to understand the ministry’s functions and responsibilities more fully.
His remarks follow his appointment to the Information and Media portfolio. Our report on the new ministerial appointments sets out the wider Cabinet changes.
The ministry’s account did not announce a new communication campaign, specify which districts would be prioritised or provide a timetable for expanding coverage.
Kawana flags broadcasting legislation
Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana outlined the ministry’s mandate and legislative matters requiring the minister’s attention. He said management was ready to provide technical briefings and institutional support.
Kawana identified broadcasting and television services as one of the ministry’s three core functions, referring to the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
According to the ministry’s account, he said new legislation replacing the laws governing the two institutions was awaiting commencement orders. He recommended a comprehensive briefing on the new Acts before decisions on commencement and implementation.
Parliament’s published Independent Broadcasting Authority Act, 2025 provides for the minister to appoint its commencement date by statutory instrument. Enactment and commencement are separate steps; the status described at the welcome meeting is attributed to Kawana.
The ministry’s role and journalism
Kawana said the ministry provides policy direction on information dissemination and media development.
He also said Zambia did not have a specific statutory regulatory law governing journalism practitioners. Journalists remained subject to the laws of the Republic, he said, and allegations of criminal wrongdoing were ordinarily handled through the criminal justice system.
He said the ministry had no legal mandate to adjudicate or intervene in disputes involving journalists and law enforcement agencies or the courts. These statements describe Kawana’s explanation of the ministry’s role at the meeting.
Public information institutions
Kawana highlighted Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), ZANIS TV, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia as institutions involved in disseminating official information and promoting civic education. He also recognised ZAMCOM’s role in communication training.
For citizens and businesses, wider access to clear information could make Government programmes and policy changes easier to understand. Whether the ministry achieves that will depend on the channels it uses and the audiences reached.
The account provides no new spending allocation, procurement opportunity or change to broadcasters’ obligations. Those details would be needed to assess the commercial implications for media operators and communication service providers.
Nkandu’s immediate task is to turn the call for wider reach into a delivery plan. Coverage targets and a reporting timetable would allow the public to assess progress.
Related coverage: new ministerial appointments. Explore our Leadership and Governance section or subscribe to The Ledger.
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