Freedom of expression and media development characterising it as a major milestone for both the media sector and the country as a whole. (1) Some commentators have, however, criticised the new law arguing that it does not go far enough, while others argue that although it is not perfect, it is a good start. The freedom of expression environment remained a source of concern despite the president directing citizens to freely enjoy this fundamental human right without any harassment or attack by those in authority. While the country has experienced some positive steps towards policy reform in the last two years, cases threatening media freedom and freedom of expression rose sharply in 2023. Reacting to media freedom violations, the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) issued a pastoral statement, stressing the need to preserve Zambia’s multi-party and democratic identity. (6) For instance, cases that had an impact on media freedom and freedom of expression in 2022 stood at 22 while in 2023 they almost doubled to 41 cases. The statement addressed various political, economic, moral, and social concerns affecting the nation, offering a detailed analysis of both positive and negative aspects of Zambia’s governance systems. One of the violations recorded in 2023 include the dismissal of a journalist from Zambia Daily Mail, a state-owned newspaper. The journalist was dismissed after taking a picture of people queuing for maize meal, at a government depot. The pictures were published on the publication’s online platform. (2) However, the governing UPND’s secretary general Batuke Imenda accused Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda and Anthony Salangeta of being fake priests and preaching Patriotic Front ideologies. (7) Other incidents were that of party supporters of the ruling party — United Party for National Development (UPND) — storming radio stations while some journalists were either summoned, assaulted, arrested or detained by the police. (3) The accusation came after the clergy told church gatherings that people of Zambia wanted reduced cost of living, not graphs and numbers. On a positive note, the Chipata High Court in the eastern part of the country upheld a twoyear sentence slapped on the former ruling party the Patriotic Front (PF) cadre, Frank Mwale, who attacked journalist Grace Lungu. (4) The sermons were in response to a media briefing at which President Hichilema used graphs to explain the country’s economic performance. Two opposition political party leaders Sturdy Mwale of the Patriotic Front PF and Sean Tembo of Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) were arrested for alleged offences of sedition and hate speech, respectively. Mwale was charged for assaulting the journalist and stealing her money in 2019. The two incidents took place on February 12, 2019, during the Mkomba ward by-election in Lundazi District. Mwale, the PF Copperbelt chairperson, was arrested for advising millers to suspend the production of mealie meal to give chance to the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to prove itself in supplying subsidised mealie meal. (8) Mwale was handed a two-year suspended sentence on the second count, while another two year custodial sentence on the first count was also slapped on him in 2020. He, however, appealed the sentence. The then director and spokesperson in the Information and Media ministry and now permanent secretary, Thabo Kawana stormed a live radio programme on Lusaka Music Radio to challenge PF aspiring presidential candidate Emmanuel Mwamba, whom he accused of using the platform to tell lies to the Zambian people. The government also announced a three-year tax holiday on broadcasting equipment, which represents a forward-thinking initiative poised to stimulate growth and development in the media industry. It also represents “a valuable opportunity for both newly licensed and existing broadcasting stations to bolster their capabilities and enrich the media landscape.” (5) (9) The move attracted public condemnation, with media associations calling for the government official to tame himself. 87 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023