month long closure. In 2016 the Independent Broadcasting Authority suspended the broadcasting license for Komboni Radio for alleged professional misconduct. 28 March 2017 ASSAULTED Suspected political party supporters allegedly assault two journalists, Silumesi Malumo from Radio Phoenix and Prisca Banda of Millenium Radio, at the United Party for National Development (UPND) secretariat after police prohibited a press conference scheduled that day. 29 March 2017 THREATENED Armed police were deployed at ZNBC to stop the continuance of a sit-in by employees which had started four days earlier over delayed salaries. 2 May 2017 VICTORY Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Kampamba Mulenga, said government remained committed to a free, independent and professional media in deepening the country’s democracy and development. She added that the Patriotic Front administration will continue creating a conducive environment for the media to flourish. 29 May 2017 CENSORED The Judiciary banned the media from taking photographs in courts and using explicit language in their reportage. In a statement released on 29 May, the Judiciary said it was concerned that some journalists from different sections of the media and public had been taking photographs and videos of proceedings inside the court rooms. 24 June 2017 VICTORY In the continued pursuit and fight to sustain press freedom, MISA Zambia intervened to save 29 radio stations from facing the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s wrath. MISA Zambia engaged IBA in finding a solution to the issue surrounding the 29 radio stations that were at risk of losing their operating licenses due to non-payment of operational fees to the authority. Research on this issue suggests that some of these radio stations has already paid their operational fees and some media expert suggest that these could be the radio stations offering different views to those in support of the party and its government. 9 July 2017 BOMBED The Lusaka premises of privately owned newspaper The Daily Nation were petrol bombed. Only one of the three petrol bombs that were thrown into the premises by an attacker exploded, resulting in a blaze a few metres from the offices’ main entrance. There were no injuries to staff or damage to property recorded. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Mulenga Kampamba condemned the attack as an evil act carried out to silence the newspaper. He cited the Daily Nation as a credible newspaper that speaks for the voiceless and which the public rely on for information.