SECTOR 1 Sections on sedition and related practices proscribe public debate on issues and publication of information deemed likely to arouse popular disaffection against the state. Sections 57(1) and 60(1) prohibit sedition (jail term of seven years) and defines “seditious intention” very widely as, among others, the “intention … to excite disaffection against the government” or “to raise discontent or disaffection among the people of Zambia”. Editors, assistant editors and publishers can be held criminally liable for the publication of seditious material in terms of Section 61. Section 69 deals with defamation of the president and provides that “any person who, with intent to bring the President into hatred, ridicule or contempt, publishes any defamatory or insulting matter … is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to three years”, without the option of a fine. The legislation even makes it an offence for anyone to insult the Zambian national anthem. Section 177(1) criminalises the publication of obscenity (imprisonment of up to five years), without defining what is deemed to constitute obscene matter. Section 191 of the Penal Code makes is a criminal offence to publish defamatory material. Section 4 of the State Security Act of 1969 makes it an offence (punishable by up to 25 years’ imprisonment) to retain or communicate to other persons any information obtained as a result of one’s present or former employment with government. The National Assembly enjoys special ‘protection’ under Section 19 of the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act Cap 12 of the laws of Zambia. To “show disrespect in speech or manner towards the Speaker” or to “commit any other act of intentional disrespect with reference to the proceedings of the Assembly” is an offence liable to a fine or imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months. The Criminal Procedure Code Act of 1933 has a number of provisions that impact the media directly. Section 143, for example, compels witnesses to give evidence in a criminal court if they are able to give material evidence or have in their possession documents relevant to the case. If such a witness fails to attend court without a lawful excuse, Section 145 empowers a court to issue a warrant for the arrest of any such person. Under these provisions, journalists could also be forced to disclose confidential sources of information. 14 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2011