ZAMBIA: ZEC gets a Catholic TV Permit
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| Fr. Cleophas Lungu |
The Zambian
Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has finally been granted a license by the Independent Broadcasting Authority of a television
construction permit to
operate a Catholic TV Station.
Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has finally been granted a license by the Independent Broadcasting Authority of a television
construction permit to
operate a Catholic TV Station.
According to the ZEC spokesperson Fr Paul Samasumo the granting of the
permit to construct a television station is a culmination of a long pursuit for
the station, dating back to 2002 when ZEC initiated the first application to
the authorities and since then has been following up the matter.
permit to construct a television station is a culmination of a long pursuit for
the station, dating back to 2002 when ZEC initiated the first application to
the authorities and since then has been following up the matter.
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) of Zambia through its
chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Mwamba formally announced on 18 October 2013 the
granting of the television construction permit and it is therefore anticipated
that the new Catholic television station will in fact belong to both Catholics
and non-Catholics, meaning all Zambians. This will be in keeping with the
approach of the Catholic Church towards its public institutions such as
hospitals, schools and other similar institutions. These institutions are
readily accessible to the public regardless of their religious persuasion.
chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Mwamba formally announced on 18 October 2013 the
granting of the television construction permit and it is therefore anticipated
that the new Catholic television station will in fact belong to both Catholics
and non-Catholics, meaning all Zambians. This will be in keeping with the
approach of the Catholic Church towards its public institutions such as
hospitals, schools and other similar institutions. These institutions are
readily accessible to the public regardless of their religious persuasion.
Fr. Samasumo
further stated in his letter that establishing a television station is a
mammoth and expensive undertaking and the Catholic Church in Zambia is under no
illusion in this regard. With support and cooperation from all Catholics and
all Zambians of goodwill as they rally around the idea of a Catholic TV, the
station will truly provide a change that will promote the best of Zambian
values and become the preferred television channel of wholesome family viewing,
on account of appropriate programming.
further stated in his letter that establishing a television station is a
mammoth and expensive undertaking and the Catholic Church in Zambia is under no
illusion in this regard. With support and cooperation from all Catholics and
all Zambians of goodwill as they rally around the idea of a Catholic TV, the
station will truly provide a change that will promote the best of Zambian
values and become the preferred television channel of wholesome family viewing,
on account of appropriate programming.
 |
| Fr. Paul Samasumo |
The Zambia
Episcopal Conference remains equally committed to three other radio projects
that are still in the offing and which will be spearheaded by different
dioceses. These include the establishment of a diocesan community radio station
in Kasama, Radio Lutanda as well as Sesheke FM to be established in Sesheke.
Similarly, Chipata Diocese hopes that now that the Independent Broadcasting
Authority is in the process of clearing a backlog of radio applications for
frequencies, the pending request (lodged with the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting Services in 2008) to turn Radio Maria into a national radio
station will be favourably considered. Unlike other Catholic radio stations in
Zambia, Radio Maria is predominantly a faith radio that promotes prayer in
Christian homes.
Episcopal Conference remains equally committed to three other radio projects
that are still in the offing and which will be spearheaded by different
dioceses. These include the establishment of a diocesan community radio station
in Kasama, Radio Lutanda as well as Sesheke FM to be established in Sesheke.
Similarly, Chipata Diocese hopes that now that the Independent Broadcasting
Authority is in the process of clearing a backlog of radio applications for
frequencies, the pending request (lodged with the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting Services in 2008) to turn Radio Maria into a national radio
station will be favourably considered. Unlike other Catholic radio stations in
Zambia, Radio Maria is predominantly a faith radio that promotes prayer in
Christian homes.
During an
exclusive interview with AMECEA Online
News, in Nairobi where he had attended the AMECEA Workshop on Strategic
Pastoral Plan, Fr. Cleophas Lungu, the ZEC Secretary General said that the
conference received the much awaited license on 18th October 2013.
exclusive interview with AMECEA Online
News, in Nairobi where he had attended the AMECEA Workshop on Strategic
Pastoral Plan, Fr. Cleophas Lungu, the ZEC Secretary General said that the
conference received the much awaited license on 18th October 2013.
Fr. Cleophas
said that the Zambian Catholic Media Center has all along been producing TV
programs at Yatsani Studios, which
are broadcast by the national TV station and this has been very expensive. Yatsani studio is owned by the conference
and is situated at the premises of St. Dominic Major Seminary.
said that the Zambian Catholic Media Center has all along been producing TV
programs at Yatsani Studios, which
are broadcast by the national TV station and this has been very expensive. Yatsani studio is owned by the conference
and is situated at the premises of St. Dominic Major Seminary.
Fr. Lungu is
very optimistic that with the issuance of the license, they will be able to
promote the work of evangelization through media broadcast, which indeed has a
lot of impact on the people
very optimistic that with the issuance of the license, they will be able to
promote the work of evangelization through media broadcast, which indeed has a
lot of impact on the people
Source:
AMECEA Social Communications and ZEC
AMECEA Social Communications and ZEC
