State of the media report July - Dec 2022 When it comes to the enjoyment of Freedom of Expression by journalists on the internet, we have the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, the Data Protection Act and the Electronic Communication Transactions Act. These pieces of legislation have proved to be problematic in terms of the enjoyment of freedom of expression on the cyber space. The major issue is the wide definition of hate speech, it has been broadly defined such that anything that one says on the internet can be deemed as hate speech, and it’s so broad” He added The cases of Eunice Phiri, Barnabas Chisha, Dakiso Zulu, and Lovemore Phiri highlight the challenges faced by journalists in Zambia, particularly when reporting on political issues. In all cases, the journalists faced harassment and intimidation from political party cadres, leading to fear for their safety and negative impacts on their work. Despite reporting the incidents to the police, no arrests were made in any of the cases, which suggests a lack of protection for journalists in Zambia and raises concerns about the state of media freedom in the country. Furthermore, the fact that none of the journalists had a concrete knowledge of the law that protects them as journalists highlights the need for better education and training on journalists’ rights in Zambia. There are some differences between the cases, such as the specific impacts on the journalists’ work and the specific laws mentioned by the journalists. For example, Barnabas Chisha mentioned freedom of the press as the law that protects him, while Eunice Phiri did not specify the law but noted that Zambia has several laws protecting journalists’ rights. However, the overall pattern of attacks on journalists and lack of legal action against perpetrators is consistent across all four cases. These cases demonstrate the urgent need for the Zambian government to take action to protect journalists and ensure their safety while performing their duties. This can include measures such as strengthening legal protections for journalists, providing training on safety and security for journalists, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. It is essential that journalists in Zambia are able to work without fear of harassment or violence, and that media freedom is protected and upheld. Left to right, Gladys Chisha-Eastern Province Media Monitor: Samuel Kwahwe-Legal defence committee member MISA, Meck Phiri- Acting Programmes Manager Internews: Dockiso Zulu-3FM Journalist, Michael Njobvu-Assistant Programmes Officer MISA. 15