Zambia

(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 January 1998, police barred a South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television crew and a Zambia Information Services (ZIS) cameraman from filming events outside the Lusaka High Court during the continued habeas corpus hearing of former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda. Kaunda, now leader of the opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP), is […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 6 January police barred four journalists from covering a habeas corpus hearing challenging the continued house arrest of former Zambian president and now opposition leader Kenneth Kaunda. Jowie Mwiinga of Reuters, Katongo Chisupa of Agence France Presse (AFP), Musengwa Kayaya of the Pan African News Agency (PANA) and Kalinda Shachinda of the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 January, Amy Merz, a CNN cameraperson, was assaulted by Zambian police as they tried to seize her camera. Five hundred dollars worth of damage was caused to the camera during the ensuing scuffle. The violence resulted from an attempt to stop the filming of opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) leader […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 December 1997, detained writer and journalist Frederick Mwanza appeared before the High Court in Lusaka, where he was served with a presidential detention order allowing the police to hold him indefinitely under the state of emergency currently in force. The police detention order under which Mwanza was arrested had been revoked. […]

(MISA/IFEX) -The Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) reports that on 19 December 1997 three journalists working for the privately-owned newspapers “The Post” and “The Sun” were barred from covering an army graduation ceremony officiated by President Frederick Chiluba in Lusaka. Reporter Mukalya Nampito and photo-journalist Sheikh Chifuwe of “The Post”, and reporter Sandra Mubiana of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – “The Post” newspaper reporter Dickson Jere has gone into hiding to avoid arrest, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA). Jere went into hiding following the arrest on 25 December 1997 of former president Kenneth Kaunda, who is linked to the failed coup of 28 October. **Updates IFEX alert dated 24 December 1997** […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 22 and 23 December 1997, police visited the offices of the independent daily “The Post” looking for reporter Dickson Jere, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA). Although the visiting police officers said they merely wanted to have a “friendly chat with Jere”, the paper’s editors link the sudden visits to a […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 19 November 1997, two South African television journalists were expelled from Zambia because they were allegedly a “threat to national security”, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA). Reggie Marobe and Abraham du Preez of Phenyo Film and Television Production were ordered to leave Zambia within 24 hours by Zambia’s Ministry of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – At least four journalists have either been fired or suspended from the national broadcasting station since the failed 28 October 1997 coup in Zambia. On 31 October, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) management suspended announcer Loveday Haachiyumba for allegedly speaking approvingly of the coup by rebellious army officers. On 3 November, journalist Goretti […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 14 November 1997, the government of Zambia detained writer and journalist Frederick Mwanza under the Preservation of Public Security Act of 1960. Mwanza was detained in connection with a failed coup attempt on 28 October. He appeared in court on 26 November, but has not been charged. His lawyer, Patrick Mvunga, says […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Zambian government has detained opposition leader Dean Mungomba and is said to be hunting for outspoken civil rights leaders and journalists following the failed coup against the government of President Frederick Chiluba on 28 October 1997. A Zambia police spokesman said that Mungomba, who is President of the opposition Zambia Democratic Congress […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Coup plotters in Zambia briefly took control of the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) on 28 October 1997. Staff member Margaret Chikwete was taken captive during the aborted coup attempt. An official, who spoke to MISA, said that Chikwete was on morning duty when she was forced to operate the station. The official, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Zambian government’s corruption investigation organ, the Zambian Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), has launched a probe into Mike Daka, Director of the autonomous Zambia Institute of Mass Communications Educational Trust (ZAMCOM), reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA/MISA-Zambia). No charges against Daka have been specified. On 6 August 1997, Daka was suspended from […]

(MISA/IFEX) – An anonymous caller threatened to burn down the independent newspaper “The Post” five days after the independent Radio Phoenix was destroyed by fire. The call was made on 19 September 1997. According to “The Post” finance manager Patrick Musengwa, the caller said this would be done to protest the paper’s negative coverage of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 September 1997, four journalists with the privately owned newspaper “The Post” were harassed and had their camera seized by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) personnel at Lusaka City Airport, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZAMA/MISA-Zambia). The journalists, Dickson Jere, Reuben Phiri, George Chilembo and Amos Malupenga, along with other journalists from […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zambian Information and Broadcasting Services Minister David Mpamba has banned the privately owned FM Radio Phoenix from relaying live British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programmes, reports the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA/MISA-Zambia). Mpamba announced the ban on 2 September 1997, claiming that relaying live BBC programmes in Lusaka and the northern town of Kabwe […]