STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA “The future of Zambia is a smart Zambia; the future of Zambia is the ability to deliver services on the back of the ICT. The future of Zambia is increasing productivity on the back of ICT,’’ He indicated. Like the Information Minister Dora Siliya, Dr. Brian Mushimba was speaking in line with realising value from the internet for economic development. 4.3. Legal and Political Environment 4.3.1 Attacks The state of the media in the first quarter of 2019 was dominated by the impasse between Prime TV and the Secretary General of the Patriotic Front (PF) party. On 29th January 2019, The Mast Newspaper reported that: 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.” And PF media director Sunday Chanda says Mwila did not insult but merely said “the brutal truth.” An agitated Mwila told Chizu and Banda-Chanda to leave and the duo obliged. “They (Chizu and Banda-Chanda) can leave; I don’t mind! I run this institution (the PF) and when I make a decision, it’s final. They are not supposed to be here! Belaisako (they shouldn’t be coming) when I do a press briefing, they are not supposed to come,” said Mwila, at some point slamming the table. The same day, the government spokesperson issued a statement saying that the “misunderstanding between Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila and a Prime TV media crew should not be interpreted to mean that the ruling party did not uphold media liberties”. The Times of Zambia reported that: 16