STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Kasoma who had sued him in a Lusaka High Court over their matrimonial house and over the ownership of some broadcasting equipment that were purchased by Muvi TV. Progress on switchover to digital migration On 1 October 2017 Zambia switched over from analogue to digital broadcasting in most parts of the country without any hitch. On the other hand, the second and third phases of the digital migration project would entail the construction of six provincial broadcasting stations in Chipata, Chinsali, Kabwe, Kasama, Mansa and Mongu. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ms Kampamba Mulenga told Parliament on 7 November 2017 that the provincial broadcasting stations would help boost local content production and employment creation.17 With a great deal of work in progress full digital migration was only expected in 2018, according to the MIBS Permanent Secretary, Mr Godfrey Malama who told the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services when it visited the rehabilitated and refurbished ZNBC and ZANIS offices on 14 November 2017.18 4.3 Legal and Political Environment The period under review provided a very unfriendly legal and political environment characterised by legal suits, harassments, threats, intimidation and attacks under which media houses and practitioners operated. Some of the threats and intimidations came from individuals while others were from institutions or the state, and adversely affected working morale of media practitioners. It can also be stated, however, that some of the so-called threats were aimed at rectifying unprofessional conduct such as abuse or falsehoods. The government’s concern is to enforce laws against cybercrime including online falsehoods.19 Through the Zambia Information and Technology Authority (ZICTA) leader of the Third Liberation Movement, Mr Enock Tonga urged the government to eliminate social media abusers by enforcing stringent and rigorous reforms in the media industry.20 The Patriotic Front also sought DN Provincial broadcasting stations coming – Minister 9 November 2017 p.2 ZDM Full digital migration next year – Malama 15 November 2017 p.2 19 DN Government to enforce laws against cybercrime, online falsehoods 8 October 2017 p. 20 DN Clamp down on social media abusers, ZICTA told 10 October 2017 p. 17 18 13