STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Alert-11th March (Times of Zambia) The Zambia Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ZICTA) has tracked down a grade 11pupil for allegedly issuing defamatory remarks against President Edgar Lungu using Two Facebook accounts. The boy only known as “zoom” has two Facebook accounts which he is believed to have used to issue the derogatory remarks against the Head of State. Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said the boy, whose name has been withheld, was in custody waiting to appear in court. Alert-18th March (News Diggers) Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya says government and any of its agent will no longer conduct any business with Prime TV Television because they are unpatriotic. In a statement, Thursday, Siliya said the decision was necessitated by the Prime TV Proprietor Gerald Shawa that the station would not help government to sensitize members of the public about the coronavirus. Siliya said no public officials would appear on the station, whether paid for or not otherwise and all prime TV journalists would not be invited to any government event. “Government to announce that is has ceased to cooperate with Prime TV 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 TV station. Alert-24th March (News Diggers) Prime TV proprietor Gerald Shawa says he is sorry and he has realized that the station cannot survive without government. Last week, Chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya said Government and any of its agents would no longer conduct any business with Prime TV because they were unpatriotic. Siliya said the decision was necessitated by the position taken by Shawa that the station would not help government in sensitizing members of the public about the coronavirus. In response, the station wrote a letter to the government, seeking audience to settle the matter but letter was not responded to. Speaking at a press briefing, Monday, Shawa said he had acted out of emotion. “I have called for this briefing in order for me to apologize to the people of Zambia and the government. The way I came out I was so emotional. I would like to say sorry to the government as Prime TV and on my own behalf as Gerald Shawa, we are very much willing to work with the government. Alert-25th March (Zambia Daily Mail) Government has taken note of Prime Television Proprietor Gerald Shawa apology. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said in an interview yesterday that Mr.Shawa went to his office to apologize before holding a press briefing. Two weeks ago, Mr Shawa refused to raise awareness on coronavirus for free stating that he would only do it after government pays for the service. He has pg. 57