Zambia / Africa

  

CPJ joins call urging Zambia to maintain internet access during elections

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 41 other human rights, free expression, and technology organizations in a letter to Zambian President Edgar Lungu, calling on him to ensure that the internet and digital communications remain uninterrupted throughout Zambia’s August 12 general election period. In the letter, dated August 5, members of the #KeepItOn coalition against…

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Zambia elections

Zambian radio station transmitter damaged in arson attack

In the early hours of June 24, 2021, an unknown group of people tried to set fire to the Kalungwishi Radio Station in the Chienge district of Zambia’s northern Luapula Province, damaging transmission cables, a mixer, and air conditioning equipment, according to a news report quoting the local chapter of the regional press freedom group…

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Zambian opposition supporters assault reporter from state media

Lusaka, Zambia, July 30, 2021 — Zambian authorities must thoroughly and quickly investigate the brutal attack by supporters of opposition party United Party for National Development (UPND) on Victor Mwila, a reporter with the state-owned Zambia News and Information Services, and ensure that those responsible are held to full account, the Committee to Protect Journalists…

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Zambia’s broadcasting regulator threatens to revoke Muvi TV’s license

Lusaka, Zambia, June 16, 2021 — Zambia’s broadcasting regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority, must stop harassing private broadcaster Muvi TV and should publicly reaffirm the editorial independence of media outlets ahead of the August 12 general elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.  On May 28, the IBA found Muvi TV guilty of professional…

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Zambian columnist Sishuwa Sishuwa could face sedition charge for opinion piece on election

Lusaka, Zambia, May 12, 2021 — Zambian authorities should drop an investigation into newspaper columnist and academic Sishuwa Sishuwa, who is accused of sedition, and should reaffirm the right to media freedom ahead of the August 12 general elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Sishuwa, a lecturer at the University of Zambia, wrote…

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Zambian Patriotic Front supporters attack 2 journalists

Lusaka, Zambia, May 4, 2021 – Zambian authorities must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on two reporters and ensure that the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 1, supporters of two factions of the ruling Patriotic Front political party violently clashed at the party’s headquarters in…

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Police officers are seen in the streets of Lusaka, Zambia, on January 15, 2018. Zambia recently cancelled the license of the Prime TV broadcaster and police shuttered its office. (AFP/Dawood Salim)

Zambia cancels broadcaster Prime TV’s license, police shutter office

New York, April 13, 2020 — Zambian authorities should restore Prime TVs broadcast license and cease harassing the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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CPJ calls on SADC heads of state to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists

CPJ writes to the executive secretary and heads of state of the Southern African Development Community ahead of the 39th Ordinary Summit, urging them to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists in SADC.

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A man walks down a street in central Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, on November 12, 2014. Prime TV, an independent station in Zambia, was recently suspended by the country's media regulator. (Gianluigi Guercia/AFP)

Zambia suspends independent TV broadcaster for 30 days

Cape Town, March 22, 2019 — Zambia’s minister of information and broadcasting should grant an appeal requested by the privately owned Prime TV broadcaster and allow the station back on air after the country’s media regulator suspended its license for 30 days for alleged unprofessionalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People walk in Lusaka's business district in November 2014. A journalist was jailed in the city in December 2018 for contempt of court. (AFP/ Gianluigi Guercia)

In Zambia, journalist jailed for 18 months for contempt of court

Nairobi, December 21, 2018–Zambia’s Supreme Court yesterday sentenced Derrick Sinjela, editor-in-chief of the privately owned Rainbow Newspaper, to 18 months in prison for contempt of court. Sinjela was convicted in September in relation to articles that accused the Supreme Court of corruption and questioned its handling of a case between two private companies, said Hyde…

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