STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Mr Kafwaya’s view was that the purpose of ZNBC was to show the Zambian people what government was doing for them and that the ZNBC belonged to those in government and not those opposing government programmes. To this end, MISA Zambia in its presentation to the Parliamentary Committee on Media and Information Communication Technologies demanded a withdrawal of the said statement as it was incorrect. After Mr Hakainde Hichilema featured on HARDTalk hosted by Stephen Sucker of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on 1 November 2017, there followed a flurry of articles commenting on the interview.29 It is a healthy sign and development when people are enabled chance to watch, analyse and comment on what political leaders say. In so doing the public has an opportunity to interrogate issues leaders talk about and understand better the quality of its political leadership. Unfortunately it had to take Mr Hichilema to feature on the BBC and Sunday Interview programmes for people to evaluate what was being said and yet similar assessment was never an issue each time other personalities featured. Trouble at Prime Television An incident involving the summoning of Lusaka’s Prime Television Station by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) chipped an iceberg and exposed political speculation and veiled intimidation for media practitioners. On 6 October 2017 the IBA sent a letter to Prime TV chief executive officer, Mr Gerald Shawa summoning him in line with Section 29(2) of the IBA Act and therefore required to appear before the IBA’s Licensing and Compliance Committee for non-compliance in Prime TV’s broadcasting.30 United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema viewed the summoning of Prime TV managing director as intimidation of the media by the ruling party and urged the government to immediately desist from intimidating the media.31 The Minister 29 ToZ HH had hit on HardTalk 2 November 2017 p. and p.3, DN editorial BBC shames HH 2 November 2017 p.4 DN Hichilema exposed ‘himself’ comment by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services 3 November 2017 p.6 SToZ TV review Sucker shows way on HH 5 November 2017 p.15 and DN The 10 blunders that HH made on BBC HardTalk show 12 November 2017 pp.10-11 30 The Mast IBA summons Prime TV over alleged ‘non-compliance’ of broadcasting Act 8 October 2017 p.7. Zambia News Diggers online Election rigging story lands Prime TV in trouble 7 October 2017 31 The Mast Intimidation of media houses must end – HH 9 October 2017 p.1 Mr Hichilema cautioned the IBA not to be used by the Patriotic Front government. 16