STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA The Lusaka Times publication reported that the Police in Lusaka had recorded a warn and caution statement from Phoenix FM Journalist Logic Lukwanda regarding a story he published over the purported eighty (80) missing Black Lechwes. It was reported by the same paper that: Speaking to Journalists at Police Headquarters, Phoenix FM Managing Director, Muzaza Musulwe described the whole incident as intimidating to the media house. “Yes, it can be very intimidating because to find yourself here and being questioned like that, it is not very good but I think it is part of our profession,” said Musulwe. Logic Lukwanda, the journalist in the centre of the case, was accompanied to Police Headquarters by Phoenix FM News Editor Patricia Mbewe, a MISA representative including Lusaka Lawyer Gilbert Phiri. Facts of the matter were that, during the last quarter of 2019, a conservationist working in the northern circuit, Nsama Musonda-Learns reported that 80 Black Lechwes had gone missing in the Bangweulu Wetlands in Luapula Province. Ms. Learns said the animals were captured from the Bangweulu Wetlands during the banned exercise where the Department for National Parks and Wildlife began capturing wildlife species from their natural habitats to private ranches. She appealed to all concerned Zambians, Civil Society Organisations, Media and Human Rights activists to help locate the Black Lechwes which are endemic to the Bangweulu Wetlands. Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Arts, Ronald Chitotela on 2nd October 2019 announced the suspension in the movement of animals from National Parks to Private ranches. The suspension came a few days after controversy surrounded the movement of animals in Mfuwe where trucks were turned back by residents. He said it was alleged that one of the Directors at the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, signed a certificate of movement of live animals from one national park to a private ranch. 25