CUBAN President Raul Castro Ruz has awarded a medal of friendship to The Post newspaper in recognition of its permanent attitude of friendship, solidarity and defence of the Cuban Revolution.

And Post editor-in-chief Fred M’membe said it is a great honour for The Post to be declared a friend of Cuba.

Meanwhile, Post managing editor Amos Malupenga said the award would encourage The Post to better serve the people of Zambia, Cuba and the world at large.
In a message accompanying the medal, President Castro noted that over the last few years, The Post had published more than 500 positive articles and editorial comments on Cuba.

“The Council of State of the Republic of Cuba in use of the attributions that have been conferred by the parenthesis K of the article 90 of the Constitution and law number 17 of 28 June of 1978, of the system of Badges and holding honorary and to proposal of the President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with peoples, it has adopted the following one, Agreement number 4509. First: to grant the Medal of friendship created by the decree-law number 30 of 10 of December of 1979 to the newspaper of the Republic of Zambia, The Post, in recognition that it has maintained a permanent attitude of friendship, solidarity and defence towards the Cuban Revolution.

In the last years, it has published more than 500 positive articles on our country and has dedicated many editorials to defend the cause of our five heroes as well as to denounce the blockade of USA against Cuba,” President Castro’s message read in part.

The medal was conferred on The Post on August 3, 2009 and officially handed over to M’membe and The Post staff on Friday at the newspaper’s head office in Lusaka.

And speaking when she presented the medal to M’membe, on behalf of President Castro, Cuban Ambassador to Zambia Carmelina Ramirez Rodriguez said she had been directed to convey the message of friendship and gratitude to a truthful friend, The Post.

Ambassador Rodriguez acknowledged that The Post’s contribution in defence of the Cuban Revolution by the diffusion of true and objective information on Cuba was huge.

“The international press doesn’t write about the public health, about the education, about the work of Cuban doctors in Africa that every day save hundreds of lives. Only the alternative media, the serious one that respect and are not afraid to tell the truth have been able to work against this type of disinformation. The Post has been an example of this. Its contribution in defence of the Cuban Revolution by the diffusion of true and objective information on Cuba is very huge,” Ambassador Rodriguez said.

“Before 2002, many articles have been published always with a positive approach towards Cuba. The Post has built a direct bridge between Latin American continent and Africa. The Council of Republic of Cuba decided to honour The Post with the medal of friendship recognising that it has maintained a permanent attitude of friendship, solidarity and defence of the Cuban Revolution. Honouring The Post, the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba is paying tribute to the truth, to those brave journalists that have not feared to tell it. At the same time is paying tribute to the friendship.”

Ambassador Rodriguez expressed her gratitude to The Post employees and M’membe, whom she described as a sincere friend of Cuba, for their support to the Cuban Revolution.

“I cannot forget to mention somebody that is not in Lusaka today but is enjoying this moment. I am talking about The Post representative in Havana, Larry Moonze, whose work has been an important contribution to diffuse the truth and reality not only on Cuba but also on political processes that are taking place in Latin America today,” she said. “I am fulfilling the instruction from my President with a big pleasure and honour. I consider myself very lucky because other Cuban colleagues that also worked in Zambia as diplomats and started the relation with the staff of Post newspaper would like to enjoy this opportunity.”

Ambassador Rodriguez said despite the adverse economic and political environment in which the revolution had been developed, the Cuban government had put in practice the principle of internationalism, the friendship and the solidarity as essential principles of its international policy and way of proceeding.

“Cuba has offered its solidarity and support to the countries of the third world and especially to Africa. This relationship has been materialised in the military help to liberation movements that fought for independence of their countries. In peace time Cuba has collaborated, in diverse spheres, such as education, public health, sport etc,” said Ambassador Rodriguez.

“But Cuba has not offered its solidarity and help in solitude. Cuba also has received multiple evidences of support and affection from all over the world. The Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro once said: ‘without the internationalism, the Cuban Revolution would not even exist.’”

And M’membe said Cuba was the best example of the internationalist spirit in the world.

“Cuba’s assistance to other poor countries does constitute a great example in a world plagued by egoism. There is great merit in a poor country sharing what it has with others. Cuba is today the best example of the internationalist spirit in the world,” said M’membe.

“I believe that when internationalist consciousness and co-operations cease to exist in the world, the future of the world will be really disastrous. It is, therefore, a great honour for us to be considered, declared a friend of Cuba. Our friendship, our close ties with Fidel’s homeland is a clear demonstration of our independence, editorial and otherwise.”

And in a vote of thanks, Malupenga said the award would energise The Post staff especially Moonze, who is based in Cuba.

“We are humbled by this gesture from the government of Cuba. It has given us a good measure of feedback on our work in Cuba and in many ways it is going to energise us as a team and much more Larry Moonze who is on the ground in Cuba,” Malupenga said. “It will give him a big boost considering that he has been officially recognised by the government of Cuba.

It is a bit difficult for us to measure our impact considering that not so many Zambians have interest in the activities and events in Latin America, but we are happy to note that our work through Larry Moonze is having an impact and has been noted.”

Malupenga said the award showed the spirited work that The Post puts up wherever it reports from.

“We have got an office in Harare, Zimbabwe. This award is not just an encouragement to Larry Moonze. It also goes to partly challenge and encourage Kingsley Kaswende who is managing the office in Harare,” said Malupenga. “Thank you again for the gesture. It will go a long way in encouraging us to serve the people of Zambia, the people of Cuba and indeed the world at large, even better.”