STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA The political situation is unfavourable. Media organisations that are critical of Government are usually targets of attacks by ruling party cadres…there is shrinking space for free media where players are cautiously doing their work to avoid closure or withdrawal of licences, or attacks from ruling party cadres Other violations worth noting include interruption of a live debate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 10 held by the Law Association of Zambia and broadcast on Prime Television among other social media platforms. The debate, which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel was cut short when cadres violently interrupted the discussants (despite presence of police) and sent attendees scampering for safety23. The debate, which brought together groups with opposing views on Bill 10 was an opportunity for citizens to access information on a timely topic of immense public interest. This was against the backdrop of a deeply polarised media landscape which failed to ably present clear information on the topical Bill 10. Such debates should be encouraged as a hallmark of freedom of expression in a democratic dispensation. Additionally, there is need for strengthening of the media’s capacity to contribute to the nurturing of an informed citizenry. On the media polarisation, one of the key informants, Youngson Ndawana, a doctoral researcher at the Liverpool John Moore University stated: There is a lot of interplay, the politics are defining the media to a great extent. The media has really been under stress in the first two quarters of the year and I don’t see this getting any better especially that we are drawing towards the 2021 election….there is this disunity and divide; them and us even within the private sector where you have government aligned media houses also who rejoice when they see others tormented. Additionally, Sipilisiwe Ncube, a practising journalist at News Diggers Newspaper noted: There is too much bias on the part of state media while the independent media is still trying to be balanced and objective. For example, the state media will rarely cover anything positive about the opposition political parties unless it is negative whilst the independent will cover both negative and positive about the government or the ruling party. While the 23 https://diggers.news/local/2020/02/19/unruly-pf-cadres-disrupt-laz-bill-10-discussion/ pg. 23