STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Hamoonga said journalists must understand police operations such as where to position themselves between the police and protestors as this had the risk of getting journalists at risk of being affected when police use minimum force. He said the police had certain methods of crowd control such as the discharge of teargas, which could affect journalists. Mr. Hamonga advised the media not to take matters such as harassment lightly when they are found in such circumstances. He said the police had the duty to fight crime using the laws of Zambia, adding that reporters must understand police work even when covering events involving very important persons such as the President. The warning by the Police came after Power FM withdrew its case against the cadres. The News Diggers! on 16th May, 2019, carried a heading “Kabwe Court Discharges PF Thugs As Power FM Withdraws Case” the newspaper reported that: “The Kabwe Magistrates’ Court has discharged Patriotic Front (PF) Kabwe District Chairperson Richard Bango and seven other cadres, among them two councilors, of criminal trespass and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace. This was following a request from the Power FM management to discontinue the case “in the spirit of oneness and forgiveness”. The newspaper explained that this was in a matter in which Richard Bango, Humphrey Mukuka, Lackson Mafoko and five others were jointly charged with criminal trespass, contrary to Section 306 (a) Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia and conduct likely to cause breach of peace in a public place, contrary to Section 178 (f) of the Penal Code, Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia. However, when the matter came up for trial before magistrate Sibaleya Chikuba, the eight (8) PF members pleaded not guilty to the two counts of criminal trespass and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace arising from an incident on the 30 of April 2019 where PF cadres invaded Power FM studio and stopped an on-going programme where National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, Chishimba Kambwili was a guest and damaged studio equipment in the process. In a twist, when Power FM station Manager, David Mutumwenu was called to the stand, he informed the court that he was discontinuing the case because he had forgiven the defendants and that as family men, the accused had people that depended on them. Mutumwenu also said he was following the example of Radio Maria Zambia in Chipata where the radio station withdrew the case in the spirit of oneness and forgiveness. In the case of radio Maria, a horde of PF cadres led by Eastern Province treasurer Zephaniah Mwale stormed Radio Maria Zambia in Chipata District, threatening to burn down the station for featuring Maxon Nkhoma, a governance activist and supporter of aspiring Provincial Chairman Elias Banda. The cadres also issued death threats against Radio Maria Zambia news editor Tobias Daka and anchor of the programme which featured Nkhoma, urging the duo to find personal security to accompany them whenever they live their 16