President alleged that the television station was inciting hate speech even after the elections had passed.3 MUVI Television is one of Zambia's few independent media outlets that carry dissenting views and critical opinions. This move is unprecedented since Zambia’s return to multiparty democracy governance system. Most observers contended that it was an action aimed at silencing the media. MUVI TV has been one of the few independent media institutions with a significant portion of its current affairs content focusing on the community as well as offering a platform to the opposition to reach out to the masses, much to the chagrin of the ruling Patriotic Front. These actions by the state, shrouded under the disguise of the law do not auger well for a nation that is still growing its democracy. Whether the actions are justified or not, there are all the reasons to misconstrue these actions for suppression of the freedom of the press in the nation. The nation has barely started to enjoy a liberal media presence and such actions reverse these gains over the years to put Zambia in a not so good position regarding the respect and promotion of press freedom. As expected stakeholders condemned the action by the IBA as uncalled for and illegal as all options to resolve the impasse as provided for in the IBA Act had not been exhausted. Among these was the Press Association of Zambia which charged that the action to suspend the broadcast licences was not illegal but premature. PAZA president Andrew Sakala wondered why the IBA never demanded to hear the affected institutions before taking such a drastic move. “The suspension of the broadcasting licences for the three stations for the three stations is premature and illegal because the IBA board breached the Act by not giving them an opportunity to defend themselves. Under the IBA Act of 2010, it is mandatory for the board to give the broadcasting station an opportunity to defend itself before a licence can be suspended….But under the same section 27 (7), the Act is explicit and demands that before a licence is cancelled, it must be given chance to be heard”4 Meanwhile, PANOS Institute of Southern Africa said they were deeply concerned with the suspension of the broadcasting licences of the three private media houses. Panos Institute Executive Director Lilian Kiefer observed that such actions have the potential to lead to impunity and rebellious reactions from the media that may fuel clandestine broadcasting and unethical 3 Zambia Daily Mail, 19th September 2016 4 PAZA president Andrew Sakala, as reported in The Post, 24th August 2016 9