STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 4, 2020 Pikiti also said Mbasela asked Kafwabulula whether she was still a virgin in the political spaces to which she responded that she did not know how to address the question and was going to leave it. “While this was a calculated move as noted by Mr, Mbasela himself off air, this should not be seen as a test for Comrade Kafwabulula’s capacity to address such questions,” Pikiti said,”. Communique-5th October (Zambia Reports) The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been named as the most open public organization in Zambia following a research done by MISA Zambia. MISA Zambia carries out the Transparency Assessment research annually to assess the levels of transparency of select public organizations in Zambia. This year, nine organizations were surveyed between 25th June and 31st July 2020. Among the organisations surveyed include the Anti-Corruption Commission, Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, Electoral Commission of Zambia, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of General Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development and Road Transport and Safety Agency. According to MISA Zambia, the objectives of this study were to determine which public organisations provide information to citizens upon request, timeously and with relative ease and to determine which public organisations utilize online platforms to promote access to information. This year, ECZ was found to be the most open public organization as it has an updated, userfriendly website and is also active on its social media pages and frequently posts updated information. Alert Update-5th October (Zambia Reports) MISA Zambia has strongly condemned the intimidation and humiliation of Socialist Party national spokesperson Rehoboth Kafwabulula by a Sun FM journalist. Last Thursday, Sun FM’s Kausa Mbasela hosted Ms. Kafwabulula from Socialist Party on the station’s flagship current affairs programme dubbed Public Forum. During the programme, Mr Mbasela humiliated Ms. Kafwabulula by asking her personal questions such as; “who are you sleeping with?” and and “are you still a virgin in the political space?”. “MISA Zambia has received with sadness the intimidation of Socialist Party National Spokesperson by Sun FM journalist during a live call in radio programme. MISA Zambia strongly condemns such interview tactics that are not only unprofessional, but also unfair and a clear breach of media ethics,” MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale stated. “We therefore, urge all media houses in the country to treat both female and male politicians with equal respect, prominence, and avoid asking them demeaning questions that attack their persona”. The interview tactic was not only unprofessional but also an insult to the female folk as it insinuates that females can only be successful if the slept with men in higher position. We P a g e 43 | 56