STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA statements against the Head of State which he allegedly posted on Facebook and for being in possession of pornographic material. The suspect is alleged to have created four different Facebook accounts using different names on which he was posting derogatory statements against the Head of State. He was apprehended from Luanshya after Police launched investigations. Continued abuse of social media in the quarter also justified intensified monitoring and tracking of fake Facebook accounts by ZICTA. Following such revelations, government instructed the authority to shut down Facebook accounts which „cyber criminals‟ were using to defraud people18. The Government has instructed the Zambia Information and Technology Authority (ZICTA) to write Facebook requesting it to help shut down at least 670 fake accounts that are being used to defraud people in Zambia. And Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said that currently there are about 155 fake Facebook accounts for President Lungu, 434 for different ministers and 81 for her alone even though she did not have a presence on the platforms. In addition, the President on 3rd September directed the Minister of Transport and Communication to protect the cyber space19. The Head of State feared that the growth in technology usage in the country has come with its positives and negatives. The minister was directed to protect the cyber space from those who abuse it. 18 19 Times of Zambia – Shut down Facebook – ZICTA directed – 12th July, 2018 Zambia Daily Mail – Protect Cyber Space- Lungu directs Mushimba to curb abuse - 3rd September, 2018 16