The quarter witnessed arrest of individuals under the law on defamation of the President contained in Section 69 of the Penal Code Act. For example, in May alone, two arrests were noted involving the law on defamation of the President when police detained EEP leader Chilufya Tayali and UPND Presidential aide Mubita Nawa in two separate incidents17. FILE: Chilufya Tayali after appearing in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court-picture by Tenson Mkhala Similarly, in June, the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court found New Labour Party leader Fresher Siwale with a case to answer in a matter he is accused of defaming President Edgar Lungu by questioning his citizenship and identity18. Prior to this, the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court acquitted former NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili of a case in which he was facing a charge of defamation of the President for questioning President Lungu’s association with a prominent businessman19. The law on defamation of the President is one of many that freedom of expression activists have been advocating against for a long time, given its potential to stifle freedom of expression because of the vague, arbitrary provisions it contains. The law contains elements of both criminal defamation and insult laws. The law offers special protection to a President who already has immunity against legal suits and can, thus, actually defame opponents at will while making it criminal for them to defame him, a status that can stifle genuine debate and criticism of the office of President. Additionally, the law is somewhat nebulous as based on the latitude and wide discretion it gives 17 Statements issued by the police spokesperson stated that the arrest of UPND’s Mubita Nawa on 10th May was in line with a video which went viral after being posted on various social media platforms while the arrest of Tayali on 7th May was in relation to another video which went viral on social media after the suspect allegedly made derogatory remarks against President Edgar Lungu. 18 As reported in The Mast Newspaper of 11th June, 2021. See https://www.themastonline.com/2021/06/11/magistratefinds-siwale-with-case-to-answer-in-lungu-defamation-case/ 19 According to media reports, the Lusaka Magistrate Court’s decision to acquit Mr Kambwili came after a request by affected parties to settle the matter outside court. In this case, Mr Kambwili was facing trial for defaming President Lungu after he questioned his association with a prominent businessman. This followed a complaint filed by New Congress party president Peter Chanda. 10 State of the Media in Zambia