Key takeaways
- ZNBC says it has noted with concern commentary questioning the standard of its television coverage during the just-ended general election.
- Acting Head of Corporate Affairs Peter Nyongani says the narrative being propagated seeks to undermine public confidence in the corporation.
- ZNBC says it attained its primary responsibility of providing accurate, verified information received from the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
- Its teams worked continuously under live broadcast conditions to relay official results to the public in real time.
- The corporation cites full-frame sign-language interpretation throughout the coverage as evidence of its commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has pushed back at commentary questioning the standard of its television coverage during the just-ended general election, saying the narrative being propagated seeks to undermine public confidence in the corporation.
Acting Head of Corporate Affairs Peter Nyongani said in a statement issued to ZNBC News that during the electoral process, the corporation attained its primary responsibility, which was to provide the public with accurate and verified information received from the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
What the corporation says it delivered
Nyongani said the corporation’s teams worked continuously under live broadcast conditions to ensure official results were relayed to the public in real time.
He also pointed to the provision of full-frame sign-language interpretation throughout the coverage, which he said was among the measures demonstrating ZNBC’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Leadership exercised under the ZNBC Act
On the questions raised about the corporation, Nyongani said the leadership of ZNBC is exercised in accordance with the ZNBC Act and in the interest of the Zambian people.
The backdrop to the criticism
The statement lands after an election in which the results process itself drew unusual public attention. Counting was briefly suspended nationwide after reports of violence and ballot theft in some districts, the Law Association of Zambia publicly challenged the legality of that suspension, and the Independent Broadcasting Authority warned broadcasters against airing speculative results before official declarations.
In that environment, the performance of the public broadcaster became part of the public conversation. The statement does not name the commentators or detail the specific programmes under discussion. ZNBC has now defended its editorial record in the open, and the argument over the public broadcaster’s election performance looks set to continue.
Related coverage
- IBA Warns Broadcasters Against Speculative Election Results
- ECZ Lifts Vote-Count Suspension as Zambia’s Election Stays Unsettled Between Rival Claims
- LAZ Challenges Legality of ECZ’s Nationwide Vote-Counting Suspension
- Hichilema’s Second Term: What It Means for Zambia’s Economy, Markets and Diplomacy
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