STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT 2021 52 ZAMBIA HOPES FOR A NEW DAWN and speaking out against allegations of government corruption or abuse has become more dangerous. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK Following his election last year, President Hakainde Hichilema promised that his new government will improve the freedom of expression and media regulation in Zambia after a tough period for the industry under the leadership of Edgar Lungu. (1) By Jubiel Zulu INTRODUCTION Z AMBIA has experienced a systematic erosion of the right to freedom of expression in the past seven years. Authorities have abused the law to criminalise peaceful dissent, charging critics with a wide range of offenses including criminal defamation, incitement of public disorder and sedition. Opposition leaders, journalists, media houses and activists have all been targeted, In 2021, the country’s broadcasting regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority cancelled Prime TV’s licence on the pretext that it was doing it “in the interest of public safety, security, peace, welfare or good order.” (2) It followed the closure of The Post newspaper by the government on allegations that the owners had a huge unpaid tax bill. The Supreme Court has since annulled the liquidation of the paper and ordered a retrial of the matter in the High Court. At the time, critics argued that the newspaper was closed because it was critical of former president Lungu’s government. Hichilema’s government is yet to deliver on the promised media reforms, and the media industry continues to push for the enactment of the Access to Information Bill that was crafted and first tabled over 18 years ago. There is also a push for the new government to repeal a plethora of laws that inhibit free speech. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema CREDIT: MODERN DIPLOMACY The new government has been criticised for its continued