STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Police in Kapiri have warned and cautioned Kapiri Mposhi Member of parliament Stanely Kakubo for defaming President Edgar Lungu by saying “ushilepela fertilizer ama farmers takwata skopo”, In an interview, Central Province Deputy Commissioner Godfrey Mwanza said police were investigating Kakubo’s remarks. “Mr, Stanley Kakubo has not been arrested. He has got a warn and caution statement from him and has since been released. He was being questioned for the offence of Defamation of the President which we are investigating. Alert-11th February On 11 February 2020, MISA Zambia received a report alleging that one of the presenters at Mpongwe Radio, Dominic Mwale who is also a professional nurse working for the Ministry of Health was this morning called for interrogations by a Human Resources Officer in the Ministry of Health and is on the verge of being charged ‘for speaking on behalf of the ministry’. According to information gathered so far, Mr Mwale was not speaking on behalf of the ministry of health but was presenting a current affairs programme which discussed among other the ongoing gassing of homes by criminals. Alert-12th February (The Mast) A station manager at Yatsani Radio Maria has been dragged to the Lusaka magistrates court for allegedly stealing over K11,000.00 belonging to the station. In this matter, Patson Semba 38 is facing one count of theft by servant. Particulars of the offence allege that on April 26, last year, Sernba being employed by Radio Maria as a station manager, stole K11, 133, which came into his possession by virtue of his, the property of Yatsani Radio Maria, his employer. Alert-13th February (MIBS Facebook Page) Government has called on the media to prioritize climate change issues in their coverage. This is because the media has a critical role to play in sensitizing the public on the negative effects of climate change in the country. The call is from the Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga. He said this when he received a donation of 200 trees from Climate Change Initiative Joint Programmes (CCIJP) ahead of World Radio Day Commemoration tomorrow. Mr. Malupenga said radio in particular has a unique role to play in sensitizing the public because of its proximity to communities. “With harsh effects of climate change which Zambia and the world at large experienced last year, the need for conservation and preservation of our environment has become more urgent than ever before. This is why am happy today to receive the donation of trees from the Climate Change Joint Initiative Programme on behalf of the Government. Tree planting is an important item on our program tomorrow during the World Radio Day Commemoration at the University of Zambia,” he said. pg. 54