SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.4 (2005 = 1.3; 2007 = 1.1; 2009 = 1.2) 1.4 Government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and the media. International accords signed by Zambia include Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981), the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa (2002), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport (2000) and the SADC Declaration on Information and Communication Technology (2001). These deal with, among others, access to information, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Regional and international instruments signed by the government do not automatically become law as the government of Zambia follows a dualist system which regards international instruments, but needs to be ratified by parliament to become law. Panellists noted that only a tiny percentage of such agreements have become law. “Zambians, therefore, cannot rely on these instruments. It’s all window-dressing, because on home soil these are forgotten.” For example, although the Windhoek Declaration encourages the self-regulation of the media, the government has indicated its opposition to this. “There is a general trend in Zambia to sign lots of protocols, but there seems to be no political will to follow through.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2011 15