The National Assembly of Zambia, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and BBC Media Action, organized a two-day pioneering media training workshop in Chipata, Eastern Province. This is in a bid to enhance accurate and factual media coverage of Parliamentary proceedings and also deepen the understanding of the legislative process among journalists.

Speaking during the official opening of the workshop, Mr. Alex Kafwata, Deputy Director of Journals and Table, stressed the importance of accurate reporting and urged the participants to familiarize themselves with parliamentary procedures to ensure the dissemination of reliable information to the public.

Having held the first training workshop for Lusaka and Chipata based journalists, the National Assembly of Zambia is scheduled to replicate the trainings to for journalists in all provincial centres.

The structure of the training workshop includes topics such as; the principle of democracy & representative governance, the role of Members of Parliament, the authority and responsibilities of the Speaker, Parliamentary rulings, Standing Orders, and legislative procedures as well as ethical & legal issues in news reporting.

And Speaking earlier, President of the Chipata Press Club, Julius Phiri expressed gratitude for the initiative, recognising the workshop as a significant milestone in promoting transparency and accountability within the district.

Mr. Phiri commended the National Assembly for spearheading such an enlightening program and called for more of such capacity building trainings for journalists in rural communities.

Training of journalists on Parliamentary Reporting is one of the activities steming from Pillar two of the National Assembly of Zambia strategic plan which is aimed at ensuring public participation as a way of bringing Parliament closer to the people.