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The Impact of Democratisation on State Media Systems in Zambia

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The Impact of Democratisation on State Media Systems in Zambia THE IMPACT OF DEMOCRATISATION ON STATE MEDIA SYSTEMS IN ZAMBIA: THE CASE OF THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS By KONDWANI CHIRAMBO Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject COMMUNICATION At the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF PJ FOURIE JUNE, 2011 DECLARATION Student number: 41420535 I declare that THE IMPACT OF DEMOCRATISATION ON STATE MEDIA SYSTEMS IN ZAMBIA: THE CASE OF THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS is my own work, and that all sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ………………………………. ………………… SIGNATURE DATE (MR K CHIRAMBO) i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Without the motivation of my late father, Frederick Noble Chirambo, an accountant and auditor by profession, I could have lost the ambition to compete, to excel and to be a leader. His vision was for me to emulate him, to be an accountant given my pedigree in related academic fields in my early years as a scholar. However, my interests lay in various areas of the social sciences and I could not have been more rebellious than to venture first into journalism, then into the practical world of electoral politics. The ‘betrayal’ notwithstanding, my father remained true to his character as a great motivator. Even as my self confidence plummeted at critical moments in my formative years as a teenager, his resolve and trust in me kept my faith in my own abilities alive. It was, however, my mother, Enica Dorothy Chirambo, who mockingly referred to me as ‘Sir K. Chirambo’ in appreciation of my ambitious nature, who may have unwittingly spurred me to aspire to these heights. Those aspirations crystallised when I transitioned into marriage with an extra ordinary woman, Francine Mambwe Chama, my wife of 16 years this year. She re-assured and inspired me to work toward the highest goal possible: herself, a proven intellectual, mother and dedicated companion. During the time I pursued both my masters degree and my doctoral studies, invariably, my role as father to my three beloved daughters, Towela, Themwani and Natasha, was often compromised by the time and energy spent on completing academic honors. Yet, Francine was always there for me; to nurture the family under great strain on her person from her own academic pursuits and the rigors of motherhood. I dedicate this study, with all my heart, to all them in equal measure and pray and hope that I shall make up for the time lost in years to come. ii I have been fortunate to have benefited from the immense experience, guidance and wisdom of Professor Pieter J. Fourie, my supervisor through this programme: his rigor, incisiveness and vast knowledge of communication science and political economy ensured that I not only fulfilled the set deadlines but did so to the required academic standards. Marie-Helen Bataille, the Coordinator in the Communication Science Department of UNISA and Dawie Malan, the Head Librarian, lubricated the process of study through their incredible efficiency in extending support whenever required. My doctoral studies would not have been possible without the express approval and support of Paul Graham, the Executive Director of Idasa who encouraged me to continue with the onerous task amidst other challenges in the work place. I extend special thanks to John Phiri, the Managing Director of TimesPrintpak (Zambia) Limited who opened all relevant doors to render this exercise empirically plausible throughout the four years I spent unearthing and analysing comprehensive information on the company. Arthur Simuchoba, Ridgeway Liwena and Denis Kapata, three long serving former editors of the Times Newspapers , Morgan Chonya, the then President of the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Andrew Sakala, the president of the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Mwaba Phiri, an executive producer on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and former editor on the Zambia Information Services (ZIS) and Andrew Miti, a former sub editor on the Times , dedicated time to be interviewed and consulted on more than a single occasion to add substance to this exploration. Marvin Ilunga, a long time friend and seasoned broadcaster provided immeasurable help in terms of additional sources of information for my study. Dr Khabele Matlosa, advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/United Nations Economic Commission For Africa (UNECA) in Addis Abba, a friend and colleague, was invaluable in providing background material on dominant party politics in southern Africa more generally as the study matured. At Idasa I thank Godknows Giya for his advice on economic formulae for calculating inflation, Justin Steyn for lending me his treasured political science publications and Mwanja Ng’anjo, for assisting with the formatting of this thesis. iii Lastly, but not the least, my older brother Mabinda Chirambo will forever be a bulwark of hope for me. His tenacity in achieving academic glory and his constant words of inspiration have kept me going for the last four years. My siblings, Dawn Mwale, Pamela Pepala, Moses and Sheila Chirambo, I recognise in similar vein. Finally, I view this effort as one that is founded on the inspirations and motivations of many – all them eminent in their own right. While I share the spirit of the thesis with them, I alone can account for its shortcomings. iv ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AMU African Mine Workers Union AMV Africa Media Ventures ANC African National Congress ANT Actor-Network Theory BEB British Empire Broadcasting BSA British South Africa Company CBU Copperbelt University CBU Collective Bargaining Unit CDD Centre for Democracy and Development CPE Critical Political Economy CPU Commonwealth Press Union ECZ Electoral Commission of Zambia EMU European Mine Workers Union ERT Employee Rights Theory FDD Forum for Democracy and Development FPTP First Past The Post FFTUZ Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia FODEP Foundation for Democratic Processes GDP Gross Domestic Product GNP Gross National Product GRZ Government of the Republic of Zambia HDI Human Development Index HP Heritage Party IBA Independent Broadcast Authority ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICT Information and Communication Technologies ICTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions IDASA Institute for Democracy in South Africa ILO International Labour Organisation INDECO Industrial Development Corporation IPE International Political Economy v KANU Kenya African National Union LAZ Law Association of Zambia LONRHO London Rhodesia Mining and Land Company LPT Labour Process Theory MCP Malawi Congress Party MECOZ Media Ethics Council of Zambia MIBS Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services MINDECO Mining Development Corporation MISA Media Institute of Southern Africa MLC Media Liaison Committee MMD Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMP Mixed Member Proportional MNC Multinational Corporation MP Member of Parliament MRC Media Reform Committee MT Metric Tonnes MUZ Mine Workers Union of Zambia NAIS National Agricultural Information Services NAMECO National Media Corporation NCCBPGG National Capacity Building Programme for Good Governance NDL Newspaper Distributors Limited NUCW National Union of Communication Workers NUT National Union of Teachers OAU Organisation of African Unity OSISA Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa PAZA Press Association of Zambia PFCP Press Freedom Committee of the Post Newspapers PR Proportional Representation PSRP Public Sector Reform Programme RAMCOZ Roan Antelope Mining Corporation RSA Radio South Africa SAP Structural Adjustment Programme vi SARDC Southern African Research and Documentation Centre SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SOE State Owned Enterprises SOS Share of Spending SPD Single Party Dominance SSZJ Society of Senior Zambia Journalists TWU Typographical Workers Unions UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights UCT University of Cape Town UK United Kingdom UDI Unilateral Declaration of Independence UNIP United National Independence Party UPND United Party for National Development UPP United Progressive Party UTEC United Technical Equipment Company ZAMCOM Zambia Institute of Mass Communications ZAMWA Zambia Media Women’s Association ZANA Zambia News Agency ZANACO Zambia National Commercial Bank ZANIS Zambia National News and Information Service ZANU Zimbabwe African National Union ZAPU Zimbabwe African People’s Union ZESCO Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation ZDM Zambia Daily Mail ZHDR Zambia Human Development Report ZIMA Zambia Independent Media Association ZIMCO Zambia Industrial Mining Corporation ZMK Zambian Kwacha ZNBC Zambia National Broadcasting Services ZNHL Zambia National Holdings ZNPF Zambia National Provident Fund ZNWC Zambia National Wholesale Company ZPA Zambia Privatisation Agency vii ZRA Zambia Revene Authority ZRP Zambia Republican Party ZSIC Zambia State Insurance Corporation ZUBID Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators ZUJ Zambia Union of Journalists viii SUMMARY This thesis explores the manner in which political-economic forces born of democratisation have shaped media developments in Zambia, affected the welfare of journalists and the viability of the state owned press epitomised by the Times Newspapers. The aim is to inform the privatisation policy discourse. Using a political economy analysis, the thesis unveils the historical intimacy between nationalist administrations and multinational business elites and how these forces - often working in collusion - influenced patterns of media ownership,
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