STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA have them locked up. That will be good for the people of Zambia and the poor people that are in the rural areas,” Kasolo said. The paper further stated that: He [Chanda Kasolo] reiterated government’s commitment to promoting media freedom in the country. “The government’s Commitment to media freedom is undeniable. The government has liberalised the media sector in Zambia and therefore we have a lot of new Radio stations and over 140 television stations that we the government have licensed. And 99% of those are in private hands with their owners having a view of their own with no undue influence from the government. You have TV stations over 40 in the country, only limiting factor for TV and radio are frequencies, then we have to go back to ZICTA to see if they can expand the range. But otherwise we encourage people to come fourth, those that are interested in making sure that their influence not only goes on in Zambia, they can come and hire licenses and set up a TV station,” In similar circumstances, it was reported that reporters covering the Southern Province expo were barred from attending the inaugural Southern Province tourism expo events unless they pay entry fees. On the 21st of August, 2019 the Mast Newspaper publication carried a heading “South Expo ‘bars’ Journalists.” It was reported that: According to Times of Zambia Journalist Chali Mulenga (who on Saturday evening was denied entry into the ZAF banquet hall for a preparatory Expo fundraising event by organising committee member Mervin Kalumba) the decision not to allow journalists free entry to Expo events was tabled at a meeting. The paper quoted Mulenga narrating the incident saying: “I was assigned to cover the event but when I arrived I was told by the Livingstone City Council planner Mr. Mervin Kalumba that it was resolved that the media needs to pay over k250… he alleged that the media has not supported the Expo organising committee through the Livingstone Press Club (LPC) and was ready to be on record,’ Mulenga said. He said Kalumba even refused to talk to his supervisor when given the phone. “I gave him the phone to talk to my supervisor but he cut the line and walked away… later in the car park when he 18