STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA government remains transparent throughout the process to avoid any misgivings within the media fraternity, especially that the process is already underway. For example, the Media Liaison Committee threatened to withdraw its support for the Bill following the cancellation of Prime Television’s Broadcasting license, an issue discussed below. In a statement, the MLC stated that: As Zambia heads towards the 2021 Presidential and general elections, and with such developments, the media fraternity anticipates a more ruthless environment where abuses of media practitioners and media institutions by political elements in the government and the ruling party will escalate. Further, the MLC anticipates IBA and other Government agents to be unleashed on all media platforms perceived to be offering critical and independent media coverage to stakeholders outside Government and the ruling Patriotic Front party14 On the Access to information Bill, no progress was recorded and this is no surprise as it is reminiscent of the Bill’s eighteen-year old journey since it was first mooted in 2002. The journey has been filled with several promises of enactment by successive governments, with several retrogressions. This is even more critical as enactment of a law on Access to Information was one of the Patriotic Front’s campaign promises that formed the party’s 2011-2016 manifesto15. Access to information laws allows for transparency and citizen participation in governance processes as they foster an informed citizenry. Such a law would further help to reduce vices such as corruption, which flourish in an environment of secrecy. It is therefore important that the enactment of the Access to Information Bill is reconsidered as a priority in view of the forthcoming elections. Further, contents of the Bill that is already under consideration by government must be made public to enable citizens and stakeholders alike to contribute to the document, which is a people’s document. 14 As reported in the News Digger Newspaper on 16th April, 2020. See https://diggers.news/local/2020/04/16/media-bodies-threaten-to-withdraw-support-for-statutory-selfregulation-over-prime-tv-closure/ 15 Contained in Section 27 of the 2011-2016 PF Manifesto. Available at https://www.mota.gov.zm/?wpfb_dl=71 pg. 18