African Media Barometer Zambia 2013 Summary Hailed as one of Africa’s success stories, Zambia is highly regarded as an attractive investment opportunity, considering the country’s steady economic growth and its relatively stable environment after the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1991. Celebrated as an example of the democratic progress, the 2011 general election saw the exit of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and its 20-year grip on power when the Patriotic Front (PF) became the new ruling party. However, that gleaming image is slowly tarnishing as civil society activists, church leaders, opposition politicians and sections of the media “berate the government and party in power for autocratic tendencies as they clamp down on voices of dissent”. High expectations that there would be a visible and positive change in the media environment following the defeat of the MMD in the elections have been lowered. Freedom of expression is slowly being curtailed. “There is serious backsliding and, although people express themselves, there is fear of reprisals.” This accusation comes against the backdrop of several attacks carried out by ruling party PF cadres on different sectors of society. The attack on people who had assembled peacefully in the Bible Gospel Outreach Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in Matero to express their views on the removal of food subsidies has had “a particularly chilling effect because the assault took place in a church”. These attacks are on the increase because very few of the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. Two people were arrested and briefly appeared in court but nothing much has come of the court case and the PF has distanced itself from those accused of being responsible. In another incident, PF cadres stormed Radio Free in Chipata and pulled a commentator out of a live talk-show because of his criticism of government. There have been other incidents involving the abduction and arrest of civil society activists. On the other hand, citizens and bloggers are extremely candid and critical of the president, government and even state policies on radio and online platforms. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2013 7