STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA MISA condemns state police seizure of Mast Newspaper equipment, raid on M'membe's residence and calls on Zambians to stand for the freedom of the press 19th February 2017 MISA Zambia condemns, in the strongest terms, the action by the state and police actions to suppress the Mast Newspaper in addition to the earlier harassment and assault of Mutinta Mazoka-M'membe during an attempted search in the absence of her husband five days ago. MISA is concerned that the state fight is no longer about the closure of the Post Newspaper instigated by the government and the Zambia Revenue Authority, but now a war to close down any media house deemed to be critical. There is no connection between The Post Newspaper in Liquidation and The Mast Newspaper owned by Mutinta Mazoka and we seriously urge the State and the Post Newspaper Liquidator to stop the unwarranted moves to destroy Dr M'membe and any critical private media. In a democracy such as Zambia, the critical mass of the people should not be subjected to monolithic, biased news singing praises to the government, unleashing propaganda against channels of independent voices especially that Zambia claims to be a model democracy in Africa. Zambia has actually lost credibility as a country with a flourishing media industry due to state and police appetite to clamp down and muzzle the media. MISA is further disturbed that the gagging of the media appears to be a war targeting Dr. M'membe-a private citizen and his family, while President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has paid a blind eye, with the police seemingly appetised to inflict pain on private citizens. We therefore demand that government forthwith stop the illegal and vindictive efforts to uproot the printing press of The Mast Newspaper which they intend to execute on Monday after failing yesterday. We urge all Zambians to stand for and defend the freedom of the media. This war is beyond Dr. M'membe, Mutinta Mazoka and the Mast; it is an attack on our fundamental freedom of expression as citizens. Elizabeth Mweene Chanda Vice Chairperson, MISA Zambia Chapter 18 | P a g e