STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA to section 29(1)(k) of the IBA Amendment Act(2010) which states that the Board may suspend a broadcasting licence if it considers it appropriate in the circumstances of the case to do so. Further, QFM reported that Ms Mapoma had also announced the revocation of licenses for Luanshya based Ngoma radio and Kafue radio. In justifying the move, Ms. Mapoma argued that Ngoma radio had failed, refused or neglected to pay any sum to the authority for any broadcast service provided. Meanwhile, on Kafue radio, she stated that the license had been revoked for non-payment of initial license fees and subsequent annual operating fees. From the government side, Information and broadcasting PS stated that there was no political interference in the decision to suspend Prime TV and that the decision was made through consultation and engagement with stakeholders. The suspension of the licence was also condemned by Amnesty International, the NonGovernmental Organizations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and Panos Institute Southern Africa who on 6th March,2019 were quoted by The Mast Newspaper Publication under the headline, “Amnesty International Condemns Prime Tv Ban.” The paper reported that: Amnesty International says the suspension of Prime TV is a ploy to muzzle independent media voices in Zambia and to undermine the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. And the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has urged the Independent Broadcasting Authority to immediately lift the ban and allow Prime Television to operate freely. Meanwhile, Panos Institute Southern Africa has called on IBA to rescind the suspension of Prime TV’s broadcasting licence. …Amnesty International’s regional director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena said the IBA’s unlawful suspension must be immediately lifted to allow Prime TV to continue telling the Zambian story as it unfolds. 22