STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Government wishes to announce that it has ceased to cooperate with Prime Television station with immediate effect. The cessation of cooperation entails that the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and any of its agents, shall not conduct any media transactions with Prime Television station. There shall be no appearance of public officers and officials on Prime Television programmes, whether paid for or otherwise, until further notice. Government also wishes to categorically state that journalists from Prime Television shall not be invited to cover any government-related business All Ministries, Provinces and other Spending Agencies are henceforth advised to cancel all business transactions that they may have with Prime Television station and to cease any form of cooperation with the broadcasting station. This decision has been necessitated by the position taken by Prime Television station which, through its proprietor Mr Gerald Shawa, on Friday 13th March, 2020 declared that the station shall not help Government to sensitise members of the general public about the Corona virus. Mr Shawa also boasted that the Government was only utilising his station because he had a large audience and not because the government wanted to support his station financially. Government finds the stance taken by Prime Television station to be extremely unpatriotic and has, therefore, chosen to disengage itself from any further dealings with the station4 Many organisations expressed concern over the move taken by government, particularly by a Ministry which is responsible for press and media development in the country. This was despite a request for a follow-up meeting5 with the Ministry of Information as well as a statement clarifying the sentiments issued by the Station’s proprietor in the initial meeting. Later, on 23rd March, Prime TV proprietor, Gerald Shawa publicly apologised to government at a media briefing, saying that he was emotional when he 4 This was contained in a press statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services https://zambiareports.com/2020/03/20/prime-tv-requests-meeting-government-ceasing-cooperation-tvstation/ 5 pg. 12