STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 3. 2020 Communique-19th August (Zambia Reports) Zambian Breweries has partnered with MISA Zambia in creating further awareness on the dangers of alcohol abuse by sponsoring an award at the 2020 Media Awards. According to a statement, the best media coverage on responsible alcohol consumption will be recognised by Zambian Breweries next month at the 2020 MISA Zambia 18th Platinum and Golden Media Awards in Lusaka. The Best Reporting in Responsible Alcohol Consumption award, which the country’s largest brewing company is sponsoring, will recognise a Zambian journalist who is committed to writing articles on smart drinking. “Journalists work hard to keep us abreast on various issues every day. But, it’s not every day that they get credit for covering critical issues such as responsible drinking. Therefore, this award is our way of appreciating them and recognising their efforts towards responsible alcohol consumption” said Zambian Breweries Director of Corporate Affairs Ezekiel Sekele. MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale thanked Zambian Breweries for sponsoring the Best Reporting in Responsible Alcohol Consumption print category. “We are grateful to Zambian Breweries for partnering with us on this award. We believe this will go a long way in motivating our press men and women,” she said. Alert Update-21st August (The Mast) PASME Community Radio Station is demanding K2 million from government and Petauke District Commissioner Velanasi Moyo as damages emanating from the latter’s decision to disrupt a paid-for radio programme featuring UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, failure to which she will be sued in her personal capacity. According to a demand letter dated August 17, 2020 for damages for trespass addressed to Moyo by lawyers representing the radio station Messrs PNP advocates, the DC is on August 13, this year around 19:30 hours alleged to have stormed the premises of PASME community radio station and ordered that it stops airing Hichilema’s paid-for radio programme. Following management’s refusal to heed Moyo’s directives the latter called the police and directed them to switch off the radio station to which they did and remained off air for four hours. The action by Moyo is said to have endangered the proper functionality of the radio equipment and caused it serious loss of business for the time it remained off air. It is alleged that staff at the radio station were falsely imprisoned to which mental torture, anxiety and anguish were inflicted on them. “We have been informed that you (Moyo) have since ordered the closure of our client’s community radio station until further notice because they did not apply for and were not issued with a police permit to air content from an opposition political party. According to you, a radio station should obtain a police permit in order for it to air political content from an opposition political party,” reads the letter. “The forgoing lawless acts show your clear misapprehension of your role as District Commissioner. By your said actions you breached our client’s constitutional rights as enshrined in Article 20 of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution chapter one of the laws of Zambia. You have occasioned damages to our client when you not only 48