SECTOR 2

2.4 Transparency of ownership of media houses
in print/broadcasting is guaranteed by law and
enforced.
Information about the ownership of registered media houses can be obtained
from the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA). One has to
physically go to the PACRA office to retrieve this information, which, it was felt,
makes it less transparent in practice.
A few of the panellists felt that the ease with which this information would be
made available may “depend on who is asking.” However, few Zambians know
who owns which media group. Some panellists suggested that media ownership
has come to be viewed in partisan lines. Owners of critical media have been
associated with the opposition, while those publishing favourable content, if not
state-owned, have been perceived or labelled as ‘friendly media.’
Broadcasters are legally required to register with the Independent Broadcasting
Authority (IBA), and print media houses are legally required to register under the
Printed Publications Act. The legal framework is there “and it is enforced.”

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

4.7 (2013:4.0; 2011:n/a; 2009:n/a;
2007:n/a; 2005:n/a)

2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks
to prevent media concentration and monopolies.
Under general law, the Competition and Consumer Protection Act covers all
companies and businesses. The Act has established a statutory authority, the
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), to protect the
competition process in Zambia.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2017

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