STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA attracted journalists from across Zambia from 9th to 10th May, 2019. The insaka and the efforts at enacting a statutory-self regulation framework were widely covered by the media but standing out were media stories such as one carried by the News Diggers! on 3rd April, 2019 under the heading, “regulating journalists will remove masqueraders from the profession.” In the statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo, was quoted saying “the proposed regulation of journalists is aimed at weeding masqueraders from the profession and enhancing professionalism”. In his speech Mr. Chanda Kasolo expressed worry that there were too many innuendos and lies being written about politicians due to lack of media regulation. The News Diggers! newspaper reported that: “And I think that’s where we are heading, where journalists should be able to say ‘oh yeah, Chanda Kasolo is this, but let us find out a little bit more’ and they do that investigation, when the story comes out, it’s based on facts and there will be no need for one to say this is fake news. Because once journalists polish up their pencils and start writing well investigated stories, then we are going to benefit as a nation. You see, at the moment we have been in innuendos about politicians, about business people and so on. And we seem as Zambians to wallow in speculation and innuendos.” Mr. Kasolo said. In line with the PS’s views, on 12th April, 2019 the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) carried a heading, “Journalists challenged to form a professional body.” Like the PS, the Minister in charge of Information and Broadcasting Services, Hon. Dora Siliya challenged journalists to unite and form a professional body that will regulate practicing Journalists. Ms. Siliya said forming the body will help expose the growing number of people masquerading as Journalists. Following the sentiments from stakeholders, on 10th May, 2019, journalists from across Zambia attended the Media Self-Regulation Insaka where they overwhelmingly resolved to adopt a statutory self-regulatory framework. The two-day conference which drew participation from over 200 media personnel drawn from across the country, resolved to back a self-regulation by statute framework. In the communique to the media, the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) Chairperson Mr. Enock Ngoma explained as follows: WE, the journalists and media owners gathered here at the Media Regulation Insaka held in Lusaka, having listened and deliberated on the matters at hand, namely adoption of a preferred mode of media regulation for Zambia; 6