SECTOR 3

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:
Score of previous years:

✓✓✓✓✓✓

✓

✓

✓✓
✓✓

3.2
2017 = 4.0

3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body
adequately protected against interference by law,
and whose board is appointed in an open and
transparent manner involving civil society and is
not dominated by any particular political party
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting fully controls the IBA. The body is
not appointed openly and transparently, and it is perceived to be dominated by
the ruling party sympathisers.
The Act itself is porous. The Board is appointed directly by the Minister with
no public involvement. Originally, the Act proposed an appointment committee
where names would be taken to parliament for approval. But these provisions were
abolished in 2010, and the Minister now makes the appointments at his or her
sole discretion. Even when a parliamentary committee made recommendations
on the rejection of certain proposed members, parliament would nevertheless go
ahead and appoint them based on a simple majority.
Nevertheless, MISA Zambia is allowed a platform to give an opinion on the
selection process, and sometimes an input is adopted, but more often it is
rejected.

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:
Score of previous years:

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓✓✓

✓✓

✓

1.6
2017 = 2.4

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2021

33

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