STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA media tries to be credible, politicians are making it difficult for the media to maintain that. Another key informant, Joan Chirwa, a media rights activist and former Managing Editor of The Post Newspaper observed that: The standards are increasingly going down. Two sides to it: we have a cadre of journalists that are in the profession for wrong reasons and therefore do not care about ethics; then we have another cadre of journalists that is dedicated to duty but their input is limited by their organisations' lack of resources, poor salaries and lack of incentives In an interview questionnaire administered during the compilation of this report, the broadcast regulator, IBA equally bemoaned attacks on the media fraternity stating that “More advocacy is needed to ensure that broadcasting stations are not targeted for violent acts. There is need to engage various stakeholders to respect the role of the media in our democratic state”24. There is, therefore, need for tolerance among political stakeholders and more so heightened efforts by concerned authorities such as the Zambia Police in bringing perpetrators of violence to book. It is also important that media adherence to ethical guidelines and professionalism is enhanced. Media must ensure objectivity, balance, fairness and should always remain true to the public interest. It is gratifying that in the same quarter, the Constitutional Court urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to exercise powers vested in it to punish perpetrators of electoral violence. According to a court report carried by News Diggers25, the Court held that the ECZ has wide powers under the law to punish perpetrators of electoral violence which include, but are not limited to, disqualifying a political party in breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct from taking part in an election. 3.1.3. Socio-political and Legal Environment in the Second Quarter The second quarter was equally marked by notable developments in the media sector. The most striking occurrence was the de facto closure of Prime Television in what was seemingly continuation of the breakdown in relations 24 IBA Director-Standards, compliance and consumer affairs, Eustace Nkandu As published on 6th February, 2020. See https://diggers.news/courts/2020/02/06/ecz-has-powers-to-punishperpetrators-of-electoral-violence-says-concourt/ 25 pg. 24