SECTOR 3 3.1 Broadcasting legislation is passed and is implemented, and provides for a conducive environment for public, commercial and community broadcasting The law does provide for a conducive media regulatory environment. Two main acts regulate broadcasting in Zambia. The IBA Act regulates private commercial and community broadcasters, but ZNBC (the public broadcaster) has its own Act and remains unregulated by the IBA. However, this is changing. There have already been amendments to the IBA Act, and currently, for instance, they are facilitating the collection of the television levy, which used to be done by ZNBC. Different types of radio stations can be licensed, including commercial, religious or community. But when stations start operating, there can be issues with a community station, for instance, changing programming to operate as a commercial station because they need to generate extra funding for sustainability. It is important for the IBA to regulate this so that stations stick to their licensing conditions. The IBA is perceived to favour the authorities rather than the broadcasting stations. There have been issues of stations not getting a licence or other stations not receiving a licence to broadcast nationwide. Some radio stations were shut down, and had to reapply for new licence conditions or renew their licence under a new name. For those who are perceived to be anti-government or politically incorrect, getting a licence is difficult. “The IBA has been used to harass media houses that don’t seem to ‘toe the line’.” There are conditions and obligations for radio stations, and if one can follow these, then the IBA cannot shut down a station. Some stations, such as Radio Phoenix, have existed for many years but have never been closed because they follow the guidelines. There are also new developments that circumvent the IBA regulations. For instance, broadcasting online has, theoretically, an unlimited radius, and stations can broadcast not just nationwide but globally. Currently, the IBA has no power to regulate online channels. 32 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2021