STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA Further, the world renowned International Press Institute continued to voice out its support for the beleaguered The Post Newspaper by clearly stating that the persistent persecution of The Post Newspaper and its owners could be seen as anything more than a politically motivated attempt to silence criticism of President Edgar Lungu’s ruling PF party and an attack on media freedom in Zambia. In statement, IPI Director, Advocacy and Communications Steven Ellis stated that the raid on Dr. M’membe’s house and warrants against him and his lawyer appeared to be the latest incidents in an ongoing campaign to silence him and The Postxviii “It is difficult to see the continuing persecution of Fred M’membe as anything but a politicallymotivated attempt to silence criticism of President Edgar Lungu’s ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party and an attack on media freedom in Zambia,” he said. “Zambian authorities should allow this matter to play out in the courts and stop harassing media outlets that seek to expose wrongdoing and ensure government accountability.”xix There are also lessons learnt going forward. A strengthened advocacy for constitutional protection of the media is more imperative now than ever before. Vigilance on all fronts should be heightened now than ever before if media, and especially private and independent media, is to continue to exist and offer checks on the state in the face of such a concerted drive target the extermination of any dissenting views. 17 | P a g e