According to Forest News: “With the right information and support, the media can become better equipped and more interested in developing well-articulated climate change stories.” (25) While the enactment of the Access to Information Act is most appreciated, it is hoped with fingers crossed that the Human Rights Commission will be appropriately mandated to fulfil its obligations and the law will not take another three decades to be operationalised. Conclusion It is understood that cyber security is a glaring issue, however, increased efforts are required by government and civil society to ensure that legislation in this regard is not misused to silence critical voices or infringe on the rights of privacy. Politically motivated violence against journalists in Zambia is a serious concern, which requires government political will to condemn the attacks, thoroughly investigate these cases and bring those accountable to book. The media fraternity is to be congratulated for adopting a code of ethics as a critical element of self-regulation to avoid being regulated by the state. Impunity for crimes against journalists should not be tolerated in a country whose president has promised to uphold press freedom. They need to be supported with capacity development to address issues of gender disparity in newsrooms, to overcome the multiple challenges they face and to make climate change more interesting and understandable for their audiences. Although the government’s zero rated customs duty for broadcast equipment is a positive move, the Independent Broadcasting Authority’s responses to perceived criticism of the government is most definitely a negative characteristic.” References 1. https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/12/27/zambias-president-enacts-ac- 16. https://zambia.misa.org/2018/05/04/ensure-safety-journalists-media-work- cess-to-information-law/ ers/ 2. 17. https://zambia.misa.org/2023/01/16/misa-zambia-condemns-assault-harass- https://diggers.news/local/2023/10/26/journalist-narrates-how-he-got-dis- missed-from-daily-mail-over-mealie-meal-photo/ ment-of-byta-fm-journalist-by-two-associates-of-green-eagles-football-club/ 3. https://dailynationzambia.com/2023/04/leave-media-alone/ 18. 4. 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(BoZ)%20has%20confirmed%20that%20hackers%20have,affecting%20the%20 https://www.lusakatimes.com/2023/05/29/upnd-labels-bishop-alick-ban- da-and-salangeta-as-political-opponents-dismissing-their-priesthood/ Bank%27s%20Facebook%20page. 9. https://kalemba.news/local/2023/10/25/police-arrest-stardy-mwale-sean-tem- 23. bo-on-sedition-and-hate-speech-charges/?fbclid=IwAR20ESpxTfpxavzW2Y- tive-write-hh-to-honor-promises-on-press-freedom/?fbclid=IwAR07OL73Cfcd- Fxr8U5J4GpzqQnfoBKYZbnSHsbnirJTRbjrbpJvWQ_aem_Abw9Pyh2ebGayXM- qwbYdNcF_OKmkxiQIEeJ75Ps3C-IeFdpteIl3mcpBQZTuPk_aem_AeY1SA3Yacb- 9vCFRSwD1XP7DuTczD8kKd1Yx6eAyE6awyNsJv71iIaA3CZzCQStiL92aFBUE- POs5gkuDigC1e4lbeCcwFvNwLdX7mFz0S7E0WaFDIkNgq1qE9oPK_XjXEXaacvZH- pL1heq_58f7b VTG91sFioUhNU 10. https://dailynationzambia.com/2023/05/kawana-storms-radio-programme/ 24. 11. national-security-risk/ https://diggers.news/local/2023/08/25/iba-takes-issue-with-kbns-presiden- https://zambiareports.news/2022/11/23/cpj-paradigm-initia- https://diggers.news/opinion/2023/07/27/the-hacking-at-napsa-boz-pose-a- tial-candidate-news-casters/ 25. 12. https://diggers.news/local/2023/09/27/iba-writes-to-unza-radio-again-for-al- woman-bank-of-zambia-confirms-hacking-of-its-facebook-page-1060761225. lowing-unpalatable-language-on-air/ html#:~:text=social%20media%20users.-,The%20Bank%20of%20Zambia%20 13. https://diggers.news/local/2023/10/18/iba-cautions-hot-fm-over-sishuwa-in- (BoZ)%20has%20confirmed%20that%20hackers%20have,affecting%20the%20 terview/ Bank%27s%20Facebook%20page. 14. 26. https://communications.amecea.org/index.php/2024/02/09/zambia-yusufu- radio-opens-in-zambia-ushering-in-a-new-era-for-mpika-diocese/ https://forestsnews.cifor.org/27297/overcoming-zambias-lack-of-environ- ment-reporting-lessons-from-journalist-training-workshop?fnl=en 15. https://register.misa.org/2023/04/20/journalists-launch-media-pure-self-regulation-mechanism/ STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023 https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230725/the-mystery-of-the-red-haired- 92