STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA arrears, in spite of empty assurances. “We note that every professional journalist’s mandate is to serve the public. But how do starving journalists serve the public when they cannot manage to put food on the table as a result of not being paid? Therefore, we demand for the unconditional lifting of the suspension of the five affected workers. We further urge employers to think beyond the faces they see every day working, breaking their backs just so that they can disseminate information of which they are denied their rights to receive money they work for. It is sad that the same little salaries that journalists receive are delayed,” To normalise the situation the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has embarked on a company restructuring exercise of Times Printpak the publishers of the Times of Zambia and Sunday Times newspapers. So far the Board and Management of the Zambia Daily Mail publication has been tasked with overseeing the running of Times Printpak Limited. 4.3.1 Media Licensing In a bid to understand the role of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), it can be stated that the IBA was established through an Act of Parliament No. 17 of 2002, which was amended through the IBA (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2010. The IBA became operational in July 2013. According to the website, the IBA is responsible for regulating the broadcasting industry in Zambia, by ensuring the promotion of a pluralistic and diverse broadcasting industry. The information on its website further states that the functions of the IBA includes among others, to grant, renew, suspend and cancel radio and television broadcast licences. In line with granting and termination of operating licenses, on the 17th November, 2019, the Mast Newspaper publication carried a headline “IBA suspends Lutanda Radio Over Tribal Sentiments Against HH, UPND.” The paper reported that the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) had appealed to members of the public and guests of stations to be mindful of their speech on air, as not doing so may have serious consequences for broadcast stations. This was necessitated following IBA’s move to suspend the broadcasting licence for Lutanda Radio of Northern Province for 30 days. 20