STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya said the incident last Saturday in which Mr. Mwila allegedly asked Prime TV journalist to leave a press briefing because he was not invited should not be interpreted to mean that the Government does not champion freedom of the Press. She said she had observed that the incidence had been trending on various platforms and that some opposition parties were accusing the PF Government of disregarding the media freedoms. “the matter at hand which is an isolated incident is merely a misunderstanding of which I believe will be resolved amicably”, Ms. Siliya said. She said Mr. Mwila would be meeting Prime TV management on Tuesday to discuss the matter which was another symbol of the party’s leadership. Ms. Siliya said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was committed to the welfare of all journalists regardless of the media house they belonged to. The same day, 29th January 2019, the Lusaka Times reported that the Patriotic Front (PF) met with MISA Zambia about the Prime TV feud. The paper reported that: Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila has met MISA Zambia at the Party Secretariat this morning to discuss concerns around the Ruling Party’s relationship with Prime TV. This follows Hon. Mwila’s protest against Prime TV’s biased reporting against the ruling Party which led to him asking media personnel from the television station to be excused from his Press Briefing on Saturday, 26th January 2019. According to a statement released to the media by Sunday Chanda, PF’s Media Director, the meeting was honest and fruitful. The Statement further said that MISA Zambia will continue engaging both the ruling Party and Prime TV in order to find common ground. Mr. Chanda further said that, in accordance with the PF Manifesto, the party will continue to build upon its record as a champion of a vibrant media, as evidenced by the 17