The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) has advised media bodies in the country to consider funding themselves in order for them to make their self -regulation agenda easier to achieve.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo says the government funding the media creates the impression that the media is being controlled by the state.
Mr. Kasolo says the issue of finances is what led to failure by some fallen advocacy institutions to achieve self-regulation.
He says this was mostly as a result of failure by some media houses to pay their subscription to the advocacy institutions.
The Information Permanent Secretary has therefore called on such institutions to consider finding other sources of funding such as grants from European Union Countries that support a free press.
Mr. Kasolo was speaking when he officiated at the 2019 Media Liaison Committee (MLC) indaba in Lusaka today aimed at coming up with an acceptable self-regulatory for the Media in Zambia under the Zambia Media council.
Speaking at the same event, MLC Chairperson Enock Ngoma has emphasised the need for the media in Zambia to improve on accountability.
The 2019 Media regulation indaba has attracted over 200 journalists and media heads from around the country and some facilitators from other countries with the aim of creating an organisation called the Zambia Media Council as a regulatory body for the Media industry in Zambia.