STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA Freedom of expression and of the media has remained even more elusive in the quarter under review as evidence shows from the various media reports analysed as well as from interviews with industry players. On a positive note however, the duty waiver for the next two years on imports of broadcasting equipment has continued to cushion the negative economic trends recorded so far. This has continued to be a stabilising factor for the sector in the short term as it will promote growth over the long term in view of the digital migration process. On a sad note however, the media fraternity lost yet again lost another media guru, former Radio Phoenix proprietor, Errol Hickey. Radio Phoenix was one of the first private owned radio. 3.0 Findings 3.1. Media Environment during the 1st quarter 2017 The first quarter of 2017 saw the continued onslaught on media institutions and press freedom and freedom of expression generally. It was in this quarter where the media saga involving the hitherto Post Newspaper saw its inevitable sad end. The episode, which started unravelling in a sequence of unprecedented events, in June of 2016 saw the final disposal of the case in the courts of law and the liquidators taking full control of the affairs with the view to dispose of its assets. The state and its agents were now in full swing to gag any threads of media freedom that were still existent. Interestingly however, and rather ironical, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kampamba Mulenga was quoted saying the “…government values a free press….that government would soon call for a national meeting of the media to dialogue…”i The Minister went on to acknowledge that the government recognised the role that a free press play[s] in national development. In the same quarter, it was reported in the media that the Zambian government had ‘given’ the national broadcaster, ZNBC to a Chinese company over a US $273 million digital migration loan that had been obtained earlier. According to The Mast Newspaper, the agreement between “…ZNBC and China’s Topstar, which is being called a joint venture will see the public broadcaster cede revenues for 25 years to service the loan. The Chinese digital television provider and ZNBC will roll out set top boxes for watching television under the Topstar brand…”ii However, the Minister Information Mulenga Kampamba clarified that ZNBC had not been sold to the Chinese firm but rather an agreement was entered into to help roll out phase 2 and 3 of the digital migration process. “We are implementing phase 2 and 3 of the digital 7|Page