STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 3. 2020 3.0. FINDINGS 3.1. SOCIO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT The quarter under review witnessed a continuation of most trends observed in the sociopolitical environment in the second quarter covering April to June. Of particular note was the occurrence of political violence against radio stations hosting opposition leaders on paid-for programmes, which are a source of income for most of the outlets. One such case was an attack on Mafken Radio in Mufulira on 10th July by suspected Patriotic Front party cadres who attempted to stop a live radio programme featuring UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema. The cadres allegedly wanted to torch the radio station after other similar attacks on the opposition party’s offices in the town. The attack was further justified by the area MP, Evans Chibanda, who was widely reported as stating that only the ruling party was allowed to speak on radio in the Town1. Another notable incident recorded in the same quarter is the illegal closure of PASME radio by Petauke District Commissioner, Velenasi Moyo, for hosting opposition UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema on a recorded programme. The District Commissioner demanded for a Police permit from the radio station for running the programme featuring an opposition leader, despite the station having notified police earlier in the day, with no security objection or concern made by the latter. The District Commissioner is further reported to have stated that the station would remain closed until further notice because of “hosting opposition leaders”2. This action, which amounts to political interference, was strongly condemned by various actors both within and outside the media fraternity as an affront to the independence and freedom of the media. One such organisation, the ZIIMA, through its president Jajah Coulibaly, issued the following: 1 As reported by News Diggers on 16th July, 2020. See https://diggers.news/local/2020/07/16/mufuliramps-only-pf-allowed-to-speak-on-radio-remarksdangerous-caritas/ 2 As narrated to MISA Zambia in an alert update submitted by PASME Radio Station after the incident 10