Zambia

Zambia’s Independent Broadcasting Authority alleged that the three privately-owned broadcasters were guilty of professional misconduct and “posed a risk to national peace and stability.”

“Political leaders must know that this decision to close the Post newspaper, in addition to political violence, restriction of fundamental freedoms of association, expression and movement undermines the holding of a free, fair and peaceful election, scheduled for August 2016.”

There is evidence to suggest that The Post is not the only media house that has tax problems in Zambia, which clearly shows that the closure of the newspaper is a political move that is beyond tax issues, as alleged.

How singing, posting on Facebook or publishing an article can get you arrested in southern Africa.

Zambia’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Chishimba Kambwili, on October 22, 2015, threatened to revoke the operating licence of Radio Phoenix, the country’s oldest private broadcasting station, if it allegedly continues to be influenced by the opposition.

The highly anticipated presentation of Zambia’s access to information bill has stalled on more than five occasions consecutively since 2011, with the government citing what can be termed as insubstantial reasons.

Reporters Without Borders condemns attacks on media pluralism during the campaign for the presidential election in Zambia due to the ruling Patriotic Front’s harassment and threats against several news outlets.

Youth and Sport Minister Chishimba Kambwili has threatened to dismiss reporters at UNZA Radio, and has accused them of being sponsored by his enemies.

The information minister said the government did not expect the media to have any difficulties in complying with the new code of ethics, as the principles and ideas were already known to media practitioners.

As the 15 member states of SADC prepare to meet for the 34th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe on August 17 and 18, 2014, the three human rights organizations drew attention to serious human rights concerns in Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Acts of intolerance by stakeholders and the continued existence of archaic laws that are used to suppress press freedom are threatening the public sphere in Zambia.

The Zambian government’s growing intolerance for criticism has extended to the media. Journalists have been unlawfully arrested, websites shut down, and nationwide broadcasting licenses revoked in a thinly disguised campaign by the authorities to circumscribe free speech and encourage self-censorship.

Thirteen civil society organisations have asked the government to immediately take steps to ensure that the Access to Information (ATI) bill is presented during the next sitting of Parliament without further delay.

Media reports quote the Information and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary as saying that the government will not hesitate to revoke the broadcast licenses of any media house deemed non-compliant with the provisions of their particular license.

Wilson Pondamali was released from jail on 31 July 2013, but must still answer to four charges in October. The journalist is suspected of having links to a critical online news publication, the Zambian Watchdog.

Actions taken by Zambian authorities against three journalists are the latest in a series of escalating tactics against the “Zambian Watchdog”. Clayson Hamasaka, Thomas Zyambo and Wilson Pondamali have been detained out of suspicion that they are affiliated with the website.