Posted: June 24, 2005
The Post
CENSORED
Supporters of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) attacked and harassed vendors working for the independent daily The Post, Zambia's leading newspaper. The assailants also seized copies of the paper.
According to local sources, the attacks were in reprisal for a series of articles in The Post that criticized President Levy Mwanawasa and accused him of sheltering a former official in the Ministry of Health, Kashiwa Bulaya, from criminal prosecution for alleged corruption.
The local chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa reported that MMD operatives appeared on state-owned broadcast media to call for a ban on The Post following the articles' publication.
On June 17, an MMD spokesman denied allegations that the party had authorized any attack on The Post, and said that the MMD supported press freedom, according to the U.N. news agency IRIN.
JUNE 22, 2005
Posted: June 30, 2005
Anthony Mukwita, Radio Phoenix
HARASSED
Police in Zambia threatened to charge radio host and commentator Anthony Mukwita with sedition after a June 10 broadcast on privately owned Radio Phoenix in which he read an anonymous fax criticizing the government.
The fax, signed "Annoyed Zambians," criticized President Levy Mwanawasa's administration for allegedly failing to crack down on corruption and suggested the president's inaction could result in a coup, according to Mukwita. His show, "Let the People Talk," is a phone-in program, and Mukwita told CPJ that listeners frequently fax their comments to be read on the air.
On June 22, police served Mukwita with a "warned and cautioned" statement, informing him that he was under investigation for sedition under section 57 of Zambia's Penal Code. Mukwita's lawyer, Sakwiba Sikota, told CPJ that the statement is a step toward pressing charges against Mukwita.
Police previously questioned Mukwita's two guests on the June 10 program, Paul Mususu, an advocate of constitutional reform; and Ngande Mwanajiti, executive director of the Inter-African Network for Human Rights and Development (Afronet). Mususu said he was asked whether Mukwita "was reading from a real fax, or if it was a hoax," the independent Zambian daily The Post reported. Mususu said he confirmed Mukwita's account.
Following the broadcast, Radio Phoenix management terminated Mukwita's contract, an action Mukwita believes was prompted by threats from Zambian authorities.
JUNE 29, 2005
Posted: July 22, 2005
Fred M'membe, The Post
HARASSED
Police questioned M'membe, editor-in-chief of Zambia's leading daily The Post, and threatened to charge him with defaming the president in editorial commentaries published by the newspaper. According to local sources, The Post had published a recent series of editorials accusing President Levy Mwanawasa of being a "liar" for allegedly failing to tackle official corruption, and calling on the president to resign.
The local chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) reported that police served a "warned and cautioned" statement, notifying him that he was under investigation for defaming the president. If convicted, M'membe could face up to three years in jail, according to MISA.
Earlier in June, supporters of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) attacked and harassed vendors working for The Post, in reprisal for articles that accused the president of sheltering a former official in the Ministry of Health, Kashiwa Bulaya, from criminal prosecution for alleged corruption.
The police action against M'membe occurred a week after police threatened to charge radio host and commentator Anthony Mukwita with sedition after he read an anonymous fax on-air that criticized the government for failing to crack down on corruption. The threats sparked fears of a clampdown on criticism of the government.
JULY 18, 2005
Posted: August 9, 2005
Community and religious broadcasters
THREATENED
An Information Ministry official threatened to shutter community and religious radio and television stations broadcasting "political" news or programs, according to local sources.
According to Zambia's leading daily The Post, permanent secretary Emmanuel Nyirenda circulated a letter to broadcasters, alleging that some stations had "delved into any kind of programming, in some cases even contrary to their assignment as per license ... For instance, some religious and community radio stations have diverted from evangelical and social issues and are engaging in political programs." Nyirenda warned that failure "to operate within the conditions of your licenses" would result in suspension or revocation of broadcasting licenses, The Post reported.
According to local sources, the regulations governing private broadcasters do not give clear guidelines as to allowed content. The local chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) protested Nyirenda's comments in a published statement, noting that, "programming today is determined by the ever-changing needs of the audiences served by the radio stations."