16 November 2017 VICTORY Former journalist of The Post, Abel Mboozi withdrew his case against Fred M’membe – owner of The Post (now closed). The withdrawal of the case prompted principal resident magistrate David Simusamba to acquit M’membe of the impersonation charges laid against him by Mboozi. 17 November 2017 THREATENED The Editor-in-Chief of The Mast, Joan Chirwa, was summoned by the Zambia Police. According to sources, she was expected to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department “for the purpose of police inquiries”. 17 November 2017 VICTORY The Zambian government is constructing 98 communication towers in Luapula Province at a cost of US$29.4 million aimed at closing the digital gap that exists between urban and rural areas by providing improved access to internet and mobile phone services. 18 November 2017 VIOLATION OF PUBLIC FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres allegedly threatened to “sort out” ActionAid country Director Nalucha Ziba and the communications Officers Helen Mwale on suspicion that they are inciting Government to arrest opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema over alleged tax avoidance. The Zambia Daily Mail quoted Mwale as having said that cadres also accused Action Aid of having been bought by President Lungu and his special assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, to speak against Mr Hichilema. 21 November 2017 VIOLATION OF PUBLIC FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The Times of Zambia reported that police in Lusaka were actively investigating expelled Roan Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament, Chishimba Kambwili, on allegations that he had defamed President Edgar Lungu. This followed a report by New Congress Party (NCP) president Peter Chanda to Lusaka Woodlands Police station that Dr Chishimba Kambwili defamed the President of Zambia according to a story published in The Mast. Defamation of the President is a crime in Zambia and one can be imprisoned up to a jail term of 3 years and is found in section 69 of the Penal Code. 25 November 2017 VICTORY Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima asked High Court judge Sunday Nkonde to be recused from presiding over The Post Newspaper Limited liquidation case. Her request followed the Judicial Complaints Commission finding a prima facie case against Judge Nkonde in a complaint of bias and professional misconduct lodged by journalist Dr Fred M’membe owner of The Post Newspapers Limited. 26 November 2017 THREATENED Luapula Province Minister, Nickson Chilangwa, threatened to close down K-FM Radio of Mansa if it continued to feature people that criticize government on its radio programmes. The threats