STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA plaintiff (Abdoulaye Ndiaye) carries his emeralds and on this occasion smuggled emeralds worth of US$50,000,000 out of the country. “the use of the word “Smuggled” imputed to the 2nd plaintiff’s character the false impression that he is a criminal and carries out the illicit smuggling of emeralds when in fact not true,” Meanwhile, the same paper on 11th March 2019, carried a headline, “Probe UPND Prime TV Link, Government Urged.” Though this was not a direct act of censorship, it was reported that: “Government must investigate allegations that Prime TV is closely associated with the UPND and that one of the anchors is a member of the opposition party’s media team.” These allegations that have potential to affect media freedom were attributed to EYA Executive Director Moses Lungu who argued that “it is wrong for any media house to allow a secondment to personnel from political parties because that compromises professionalism and government must probe these allegations and be made to explain how it allowed such a situation” Mr. Moses Lungu also argued that “If people have political ambitions and inclinations, they must not hide behind the veil of the media but come out in the open and join politicians.” 4.3.4. Harassment The quarter under review recorded acts of harassment of media that included Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Felix Mutati’s faction group storming into United Voice Radio studios in an attempt to interrupt a programme on which Nevers Mumba was being featured. The youths who were led by their coordinator Gerald Chiluba and Prince Ndoyi ordered that Dr. Nevers Mumba stops featuring on the radio programme because he was “a masquerader.” The News Diggers! Newspaper reported on 7th February 2019 under the heading “Mutati’s youths Storm Christian Radio to fish out rival, Nevers” that: The cadres stormed the radio station around 10:30 hours but United Radio Officials told them that he had already left the station. United voice Radio management locked Mumba in the studio upon noticing the presence of the youths, oblivious to him as he was busy responding to the callers. Police arrived and dispersed the youths and a few minutes later 27