T he year under review opened on a rather promising note with the then Zambian President, Dr Levy Mwanawasa, promising the media on January 11, 2008, during the official opening of Parliament, that Government would re-introduce the Freedom of Information Bill back into Parliament following wide consultation. Mwanawasa also said that Government intended to put in place the board of directors for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and make operational the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act of 2002 through appointment and ratification of board members by Parliament. However, when the president fell ill on June 29, the glimmer of hope seemed to have been washed away. During his illness, the media struggled to access timely and accurate information on the status of his health from Zambian officials to pass on to the anxious citizens. The Zambian media seemed confused and lagged behind major international media organisations in terms of information about the president’s health as a result. The situation was worsened when the international media reported that the president had died, yet no official confirmation was made by Zambian officials. Sections of the Zambian media aired the news and commenced playing solemn music. However, then Minister of Information Mike Mulongoti dispelled the rumour on ZNBC and stated that the Zambian president was still alive and was in a stable condition. On August 19 then Acting President, Rupiah Banda, announced Mwanawasa’s death in a national address on ZNBC television and radio. The current media situation During the year under review most media violations were within the context of the presidential by-election of October 30. For example, between September and November 2008, MISA Zambia recorded and reported 16 media freedom violations compared to just six between January and August 2008. However, in the same period two victories in favour of freedom of expression were recorded. On January 24 the Supreme Court of Zambia upheld the 2004 decision of the Lusaka High Court not to deport satirical columnist Roy Clarke, a British national permanently resident in Zambia. On April 3, the Lusaka High Court Deputy Registrar Edward Musona dismissed an appeal by the defence lawyer of former Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander Lieutenant General Sande Kayumba facing charges of abuse of office and corruption requesting the Magistrate to caution The Post editor Fred M’membe to desist from commenting on a case that was before the court. Besides these victories, journalists in Zambia during 2008 were beaten, verbally abused, threatened, faced court injunctions, were ejected from political meetings and faced direct censorship. The media in Zambia also came under heavy criticism following the polarisation that characterised major media organisations in terms of coverage of presidential candidates. Key civil society organisations (CSOs) stated that the major media organisations were not fair in the coverage of the October 30 presidential by-elections. The CSOs said this in a joint statement released on November 14. They included the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Anti-Voter Apathy (AVAP), the Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) and the Zambia Women’s Lobby (ZNWL). In addition to these concerns, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) on November 9 called for the amendment of the Electoral Code of Conduct to provide effective sanctions against erring media organisations during the time of elections. The concerns raised on the conduct of the major media by the above organisations were also raised by some of the most influential opposition Members of Parliament (MPs). Some of the MPs who were the strongest advocates of media freedom in the Zambian Parliament called for statutory media regulation because of the way the press covered the October 30 elections. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -112- Media Institute of Southern Africa