STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA of Information and broadcasting Services, Ms Kampamba Mulenga immediately advised politicians not to meddle in the work of the IBA as it was guided by a law.32 In its reporting, The Mast added a speculative statement, “It is believed (added emphasis) Prime TV was summoned for airing a news item on suspected vote rigging.” When Prime TV appeared before the IBA’s Licensing and Compliance Committee on 10 October 2017, it was asked to submit recordings of three programmes namely Oxygen of Democracy, News and News Summaries, Breakfast News and documentaries for the period 7 August to 7 October 2017 by 16.00 hours on the same day without fail.33 As the matter unfolded, a political activist, Mr Yotam Mtayachalo, implored Zambians to stand up and defend Prime TV from what he termed unjust victimisation from the IBA. He stated that the IBA was being used by politicians to silence the television station and to suffocate independent media.34 Until the end of the quarter no detailed information about Prime TV’s non-compliance with broadcasting Act was made available to the public. Unfortunately, the Prime TV incident has the potential of also intimidating media houses and practitioners in their professional work. Court clears former MIBS permanent secretary and former Mail deputy managing director The fourth quarter of the year brought great relief to Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Dr Sam Phiri, former Deputy Managing Director of the Zambia Daily Mail Limited, Mr Davies Mataka and a consultant, Mr Ngande Mwanajiti.35 The three were acquitted by a Lusaka Magistrate’s Court of a charge of fraudulently diverting more than K195 000 from the public media support fund held by the MIBS for the production and printing a private newspaper called The Zambian during months leading to the presidential and The Mast Politicians shouldn’t meddle in IBA’s work – Kampamba 10 October 2017 p.2 DN Kampamba blasts HH 10 October 2017 p.4 33 The Mast IBA orders Prime TV to submit recordings of its 3 programmes 11 October 2017 p.7 34 The Mast Defend Prime TV from IBA’s victimisation – Mtayachalo 15 October 2017 p.1 35 ToZ Phiri, Mataka, Mwanajiti acquitted 12 October 2017 p.2 ZDM Ex-permsec, Mataka acquitted 12 October 2017 p.2 32 17