SECTOR 3 3.3 The body, which regulates broadcasting services and licences, does so in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. The IBA regulates broadcasting services and licences in Zambia, in line with the IBA Act Number 17 of 2002. However, to date, the IBA has no board, and the ministry, as a body, issues broadcasting licences. “As recently as one month into the operations of IBA, licences were still being signed by the minister.” In order to apply for a licence, an application form with the required supplementary documentation (e.g. qualifications, etc) is submitted to the Ministry of Information, but ZICTA issues the actual broadcasting frequencies. ZICTA then carries out an inspection to ensure that the applicant has the necessary equipment, a generator, the required wiring, and that a police officer is stationed at the station. If all is in order after this inspection, IBA is the content and licensing regulator. Of concern is that there is no real transparency or understanding of the criteria involved in being issued with a licence. In addition, the independence of IBA itself is questionable. “When the DG was appointed (for the first time), she found that managers had already been hired into positions.” 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: 1.8 (2011:1.1; 2009:1.0; 2007:1.0; 2005:1.1) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2013 51