STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 3. 2020 He has challenged the President to bring the violence to an end saying Presidential powers are not in perpetuity. Mr Kambwili said the misbehavior of PF cadres disrupting radio programs must come to an end because the country does not belong to PF but every Zambian. He said President Lungu must use the presidency to develop Zambia and not to intimidate Zambians. Mr Kambwili has pleaded with Zambians to vote President Lungu out of office next year to allow him to go back to Chawama. Communique-22nd July (Valley FM) Threatened On 22/07/2020, MISA Zambia received a report through a letter from Valley FM indicating that the radio station was visited by ZICTA inspectors on 27th June 2020 who demanded for a valid transmission certificate which was not in place because the institution has not yet paid the authority. Following this development, the station was left off air as the inspector confiscated the transmitter. Valley FM, through the station manager Cephas Mumba, informed MISA Zambia that efforts have been made to pay the authority for the transmitter to be returned. However, the authority has not granted the station’s request because the authority is alleging that the report is not ready. In addition, Mr Mumba said the transmitter in question was procured through hire purchase and the station is still paying for it. Therefore, its confiscation and subsequent lack of business wrought by the station being off air may lead to non-payment for the equipment. He therefore appealed to MISA Zambia to assist it recover the seized transmitter as soon as possible to facilitate the station going back on air. Communique-27th July (Lusaka Times) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga has commended MISA Zambia and its partners for undertaking a survey to determine public trust in the media. Mr. Malupenga says the report is important as it will help the media to assess their relationship with the public to whom their loyalty must be. He says among other issues, the report highlights biasness, media capture, and political polarisation as some of the reasons for loss of public trust and confidence in the media. Mr. Malupenga says the report also cites inaccurate media coverage and lack of in-depth analysis of issues as some of the reason for the erosion of public trust in the media. He said the report therefore, serves as a timely reminder for the media in Zambia to be professional at every given time and to ensure that professional ethics remain key guiding principles in their operations. Mr. Malupenga said the findings of the report also vindicate Government’s persistent call for professionalism and strict adherence to professional ethics by the media which in some circles, have been misunderstood as efforts to gag the media. 43