SECTOR 1 Influential persons fear the effect public ridicule and demeaning statements will have on them; a negative impact on their standing in their communities, or the loss of business and government contracts. There has also been an increase of free expression particularly through social media. However, freedom of expression in the digital space can also be restricted by (what appears as) individuals trying to systematically shut down a critical public conversation online through trolling. Several panellists expressed an alternative view saying that a high level of fear is prevalent among citizens and that “a great deal of self-censorship” has been evident during the course of the last few years. Due to fear of repercussions, people do not express themselves in the manner they would otherwise do. In the case of journalists, there has been “a lot of intimidation,” particularly in the pre-election period, with parties showing an intolerance towards differing views. Journalists were specific targets. A brutal, violent incident took place in December 2015, when two journalists from The Post and Feel Free FM Radio, were attacked, beaten and assaulted by the Patriotic Front (PF) cadre causing bodily harm to the journalists. They were given incentives to drop the case; with an offering of lucrative employment.3 It is not uncommon that presenters and or producers are expected to stop a critical discussion or to ensure that criticism does not get on the air. Especially around the 2016 general elections and shortly after, the atmosphere was ‘charged’, and at times even the police would interfere. If a journalist allowed criticism of the government to be voiced on air, “the moment the programme comes to an end you can be sure either the police or somebody else is knocking at your door.” When journalism students of the Lusaka Star radio magazine of the University of Zambia had a guest, who spoke critically about the government, they were arrested by the police shortly after airing the programme and held in a cell for 10 days for allegedly airing seditious material. In another incident, broadcasters were accused of circulating classified information because a letter stating that they should avail broadcasting tapes of a certain programme to the police ended up on social media. For this, the accused had to spend an entire day at the police station. 3 In Chipata on the 10th December 2015, two journalists investigated allegations that foreigners were assisted in obtaining National Registration Cards (NRCs), and as a consequence were registered as voters. PF cadre recognised the journalists and attacked them. The case was heard by the magistrate court which presented its judgement on the 10th June 2016. The Magistrate found the PF Vubwi district Chairperson guilty of assaulting the journalist and fined him K 12,000 (U$1,200), or if he failed to do so to serve a nine- months sentence. (http://misa.org/featured-on-home/ zambia-victory-post-correspondent-fell-free-radio/) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2017 15