STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA … government had seen an emergence of “thieves and criminals and fraudsters” who are trying to take advantage of the ICT platforms to perpetuate criminal activities. “This is sad! As government, we have crafted policies and laws that are going to Parliament, specifically Three of them that are going to speak to our intention to regulate and create boundaries around the (cyber) space, said Dr Mushimba. “Let me be clear, these regulations and boundaries are not meant to stifle dissenting views or freedom of speech. Freedom of expression is only freedom of expression when you don’t create victims. When you create victims, your freedom ends! As the government and as a country of laws, somebody has to step in to protect victims when you create them.” Some people however, feel that the regulation of the cyberspace is a way for government to curtail free expression especially that the mainstream media in Zambia is heavily controlled by the ownership structure. For example, public media is controlled by government and private media is controlled by ownership models that have a huge influence on the editorial independence of the media organisation. In line with the editorial independence of the media in Zambia, The Mast newspaper on 29th January, 2019 quoted the President for the United Party for National Development (UPND) Mr. Hakainde Hichilema saying that “it’s not possible to gag the media in today’s electronic age.” The paper reported that: UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema says it’s not possible to gag the media in today’s electronic era. On Saturday, PF secretary general Davies Mwila fidgeted in his seat and told Prime TV journalists Njenje Chizu and Toliwe Banda Chanda to leave the ruling party secretariat because: “they don’t cover us”…Reacting to the chasing of the journalists, Hichilema said there was no need to mistreat the media… “How can you gag the media? If the PF are not interviewed openly, whoever interviews them will make the information available and the media will pick it. So, let’s be humane towards each other.” In similar circumstances, on 13th March 2019, the Daily Mail Publication carried a headline, “Stop Social Media Abuse, Youths Ordered.” The story was attributed to Mr. Amos Chanda who at that 14