STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA 7.1.3 16th February, 2017 (The Mast Newspaper) Media freedom violation alert Harassed and beaten Armed police officers on Wednesday, 15th February 2017 raided former Post Newspaper proprietor Fred M’membe’s house along Nangwenya Road. The officers refused to produce the search warrant to his family members and revealed that they were looking for M’membe who they sought to arrest allegedly on orders from Post Newspaper liquidator. This was concerning the alleged case of impersonation by M’membe and his lawyer Nchima Nchito over the liquidation of the Post Newspaper. This followed the issuance of arrest warrants by the Lusaka Magistrates court. When the officers did not find M’membe, they picked his wife after roughing her up and tearing her dress in the presence of onlookers who were passing on the road. 7.1.4 25th February 2017, (The Mast Newspaper) Media freedom violation alert Police and other state operatives in plain clothes raided premises at Plot 19, Joseph Mwilwa Road in Rhodes Park where The Mast newsroom is believed to be operating from and parked within and around the premises in search of The Mast journalists. After about three hours of waiting, the state agents drove off after realising that the journalists they were looking for did not operate from the alleged house. 7.1.5 7th March 2017 (The Mast) Legal matters Lesa Kasoma found with case to answer Komboni Radio Director Lesa Kasoma was found with a case to answer in a case she is accused of assaulting a police officer. It is alleged in this matter that Kasoma, on October 5, 2016 assaulted a police officer, Simon Chisanga, occasioning him actual bodily harm. During the alleged committing of the offence, police officers brutally beat up and stripped naked Lesa Kasoma for alleged interference in their work. According to media reports, “…the police officers who had been guarding the radio station after its closure brutalised Kasoma who had gone to the radio station to inform the police officers of government’s resolve lift the suspension of the broadcasting license, “after a month long closure. 29 | P a g e