STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA “The incident happened when the unruly PF cadres spotted the reporter after she covered Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe who was addressing marketeers and accompanied by National Planning Minister Alexander Chiteme and Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe at the Kitwe City Council”. Lastly, in the third quarter of 2018, the Daily Nation premises were petrol bombed. However, the first quarter saw a packer being attacked around 05:00 hrs. On 21st March, 2018, police instituted investigations into the brutal attack on the Daily Nation packer who sustained a deep cut on his head inflicted by unknown assailants just outside the newspapers premises. The packer survived the brutal attack after the newspaper’s private security responded to screams and rushed out to see what was happening. The attack prompted the Daily Nation management to appeal for the Zambia Police to intensify security patrols around the industrial area. The attack left the employee with a dislocated knee and a cut on the head requiring eight (8) stitches. 4.3.2.2 Blocked from covering a press briefing The year opened with two reporters being chased from covering an opposition political party press briefing. A story published by Smart Eagles on 15th March, 2018 indicated that ‘journalist Brian Mwale was harassment and chased from covering Kambwili’s press briefing’8. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation – ZNBC - Journalist Brian Mwale has this morning been harassed and chased from covering a National Democratic Congress NDC- press briefing at Chishimba Kambwili‟s residence on Lewanika Close, off Brentwood drive in Kabulonga. NDC Youth leader Charles Kabwita attacked Brian Mwale under the watchful eye and instruction of the opposition political party leader Chishimba Kambwili and only Bridget Atanga came to his rescue before being overpowered by a gang of youths present at the residence. Brian was kicked out of the Kambwili residence followed by a Times of Zambia Reporter. 8 th Smart Eagles (Facebook), 15 March, 2018: Journalist Brian Mwale Harassed & Chased From Covering Kambwili's Press Briefing 14