other object tending to cited for circulation even when done in corrupt morals public interest. The Section is too open and vague. The law must thus balance its provisions with public interest, for which media practitioners usually conduct their work. Such a principle is in the spirit of widely accepted conventions such as the 2001 Budapest convention on cybercrime18 which gives protocols on lawful interception among other issues in fighting cybercrime and as well as the 2013 SADC model law on computer crime and cybercrime19 which sets the standard for cyber security and cybercrime in the Southern Africa Region. Other international provisions worth taking into account in weighing the CCA include the African Union Convention on cybersecurity and personal data protection, more commonly called the Malabo Convention20. One case in point during the period under review is that of KBN Television whose journalist, Percy Chanda, was warned and cautioned by Police for the publication and airing of a leaked phone conversation allegedly between two identified government officials21. The Journalist was initially summoned for questioning under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, bringing the fears of most activists to light. The Minister of Information, Honourable Chushi Kasanda issued the following after the broadcast of the alleged leaked audio22: Government is concerned with the unprofessional conduct of some media houses in their reporting. A case in point is KBN Television station which broadcast a private telephone conversation between two senior Government officials without verifying the authenticity of the recording with the people concerned. This is contrary to media professional ethics and conduct, which demands that a journalist ought to verify any information before publishing it. 18 See https://www.coe.int/en/web/cybercrime/the-budapest-convention Available at https://www.itu.int/en/ITUD/Cybersecurity/Documents/SADC%20Model%20Law%20Cybercrime.pdf 20 Available at https://au.int/en/treaties/african-union-convention-cyber-security-and-personal-dataprotection 21 See https://cpj.org/2022/02/police-investigate-journalist-petty-chanda-over-leaked-audio-of-governmentofficials/ 22 As issued on 20th January, 2022. See https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=238373591807256&id=100069038505521 19 26