August 5, 2009
Zambia State House
President Rupiah Banda
Dear President Banda:
We are writing on behalf of the International Women’s Media Foundation to express our alarm concerning Zambian journalist Chansa Kabwela, who is facing charges of circulating obscene materials.
Kabwela, news editor for The Post in Zambia, was arrested on July 15 for circulating photographs of a woman giving birth without medical aid outside the University Teaching Hospital, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The photos were taken by the woman’s husband, who gave them to The Post because he believed that what happened should not happen to others. Editors decided the pictures were too graphic for publication but felt it important to raise awareness among government and civic leaders about the human impact of a strike at the hospital. So on June 10, Kabwela sent the photos with a letter to the vice president, the minister of health, the cabinet secretary, the archbishop of Lusaka, and two civil society groups, urging that the hospital strike be settled.
Kabwela pleaded not guilty and is currently free on bail, but the next hearing for her case is scheduled for August 5.
The IWMF calls for the charges against Kabwela to be dismissed and urges Zambian authorities to investigate so that Kabwela can continue her work. Kabwela was simply doing her job as a reporter; she was not circulating obscene materials as the charges against her state. We are concerned that the charges signal more restrictions on free expression and press freedom in Zambia. All viewpoints should be allowed to be expressed in the media without force or coercion from authorities.
As a network of thousands of women and men in the media around the world who are supporters of a worldwide free press, we respectfully urge you to take immediate action to ensure that Kabwela is allowed to safely carry out her professional work. By using your power to ensure that justice is done in this case, you will take a step toward establishing a free and independent press in Zambia.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Akwe Amosu, co-chair
Campbell Brown, co-chair
cc: Southern African Development Community Secretariat
SADC House
Private Bag 0095
Gaborone
Botswana
Fax: +267 397 2848
The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
2419 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: (202) 332- 0826
Media Institute of Southern Africa
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Fax: +264 61 248016