Zambia publication in December 2016 and eventually went to print in December 2017. On yet another positive side, Zambian’s anticipation for digital migration was finally sated. This has undoubtedly contributed to diversity in the form of an alternative nationwide voice to the government-controlled Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). Due to digital migration several television stations have taken on national coverage even though most are aired under various subscription bouquets offered by TopStar and some private signal carriers such as Kwese, Muvi TV and GOtv. The year under review was a difficult year for Zambian media with an increasingly high volume of violations as the year progressed and a dramatically changed landscape following the closure in late 2016, of The Post - the country’s oldest and most aggressive privately owned daily newspaper. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The year under review was a difficult year for Zambian media with an increasingly high volume of violations as the year progressed and a dramatically changed landscape following the closure in late 2016, of The Post - the country’s oldest and most aggressive privately owned daily newspaper. While the contention with The Post over unpaid taxes was explained as an administrative issue, there were those who regarded it as a move by the State of shutting down a critical voice. During its 26-year history on the Zambian media landscape it earned the reputation of being independent and fiercely critical of the government and ruling party. During its time The Post stirred the resentment of successive governments for exposing corruption and abuses of power. This often led to the arrest and charging of The Post journalists, with the newspaper’s founder and editor, Fred M’membe often in the firing line. He was briefly arrested for contempt in 2010, when he published an article critical of a case against one of the paper’s employees2. Immediately upon the closure of The Post, a new paper – The Mast hit the streets in 2016. On 28 April, Hakainde Hichilema’s wife, Mutinta, was threatened with arrest after she reported the police’s use of excessive force as they sought to arrest her husband. No charges had been brought against the police in connection with the incident by the end of the year. On 15 August, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew all charges against Hakainde Hichilema and the other UPND members in what was said to be an act in the public interest. Suf2 Democracy Under Threat in Zambia, Friedman – The Zambian Observer Rafael So This is Democracy? 2017 121