STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Day signifies that there is freedom of the press in Zambia. And Siliya has pledged her Ministry’s support to all practicing journalists, further assuring them of protection against intimidation and prosecution as long as they are able to practice ethical journalism. Speaking during a joint press briefing held at her office, Wednesday, Siliya who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said she was happy that the media in Zambia commemorated their day on May 3, without any of them in jail, unlike in other countries where journalists were being jailed for various reasons. Alert-15th May (MISA) On 15th May 2020 MISA Zambia received censorship reports that PF thugs had just invaded Muchinga Radio station in Chinsali featuring the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema via phone. Muchinga Station Manager, Fred Mbewe, confirmed the incident to be true. He explained that on 15/05/2020 during their program Muchinga breakfast show at 07:15 which comes every weekday they hosted UPND President HH to discuss Covid-19 and current affairs. About 10 minutes into the program whilst doing the introductions PF Carders led by a PF councilor walked into the studios to stop the interview via phone but they failed. The program however continued and no damage was made to any property. They later fled in the vehicle of the known wade councilor. The matter has been reported to the police station and they have been told to submit a recording of the program. Communique-21st May (News Diggers) MISA has backed calls by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to air pre-recorded programmes to avoid attacks. And Mwale says people that are disrupting radio programmes are trying to tarnish President Edgar Lungu’s name. Last week, IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma advised radio and television stations to interview certain sources from their homes, and thereafter, air recorded programmes rather than hosting them in the studios to avoid attacks. Commenting on the recommendation, MISA chairperson Hellen Mwale said if radio guests were continuously being attacked when they featured on-air, it was only right to produce pre-recorded Alert-26th May (MISA) MISA Zambia received reports that a Your Generation Radio journalist was allegedly verbally harassed by Choma Mayor Jarvin Cimoloka Gilbert Simaanzi was following up on the radio equipment (transmitter) which Choma made in a full council resolution to donate the said equipment to Macha radio station 5 years ago. pg. 60