2.6.4 Police caution Post editor-in-chief and two reporters (Post Newspaper 15.05.15) Police on Tuesday May 12, 2015, warned and cautioned Post Newspaper editor-in-chief Fred M’membe and reporter Mukosha Funga over a letter that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Rosewin Wandi wrote to President Edgar Lungu, informing him of the corruption investigations against his aide, Kaizer Zulu. The other reporter, Kombe Mataka, who was also summoned, was, however not questioned on account of her pregnancy. NGOCC executive director, Engwase Mwale said the summoning of the editor-in-chief and the reporters was totally unnecessary and an affront to media freedom. She urged the government to desist from muzzling the media through the use of archaic secrecy laws. Ms. Mwale said that instead of intimidating journalists, the government should explain to the nation how it intends to utilise the loans being contracted and the net effect on the country’s economy, especially on the majority poor. “In our view, the summoning of the journalists from the Post newspaper is totally unnecessary and an upfront to media freedom. As opposed to intimidating journalists with arrests, the government should instead explain to the nation how they intend to utilise the loans being contracted and the net effect on our country’s economy, especially on the majority poor.” She also said there was need for government to immediately enact the access to information bill. “As citizens, we have the responsibility and duty to monitor the conduct of the government and we are, therefore, of the view that the Access to Information law would also be a counter measure against vices such as corruption and other hidden agreements such as the US$192 million debt. This law, without doubt, will enhance transparency and accountability in the operations of the State and minimise the spillage of ‘classified’ documents.” As pointed out above, this points to the need for the ATI bill which will enable public access of vital information without fear of retribution. Of course, the bill sets out procedures and measures to maintain integrity of information. However, the legal provision that allows identified state functionaries to ‘classify’ information has been used arbitrarily even when the information in question is in public interest and has potential to affect the daily livelihood of the citizenry. This development is therefore worth watching closely. 21