STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA media debates. The month of March recorded the most media debates on the impasse between Prime TV, PF Secretary General and IBA. In the period under review, press freedom and freedom of expression were under threat with cadres attacking radio stations by storming into studios. There were also threats by government officials ordering the media to come up with a self-regulatory framework within three months or else be forced to be regulated by statutes. The continued incarceration of Derrick Sinjela, the News Editor for a publication called “The new Vision Newspaper” also made headlines in the period under review. It should be noted that the first quarter of the year 2019 also scored some victories. Arguably one of the biggest news received during the period under review was the tabling and approval of the Access to Information bill in Cabinet. Another success recorded during the period under review was the launch of two media advocacy groups: The Zambia Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA) and the Independent Press Initiative (IPI). These two groups have been active voices advocating for media reforms in the period under review. Generally, however, the period under review recorded more violations of media freedoms than victories. 4.0 Findings – Overview The media in the period under review was dominated by debates around the feud between Prime TV and the Patriotic Front (PF) party’s secretary general Mr. Davies Mwila. This impasse escalated to the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) siding with Mr. Mwila and ordering Prime TV to apologise or face a lawsuit. IBA escalated its order to an eventual switching off of the TV station for 30 days. Also making news in the period under review were calls for self-regulation on the part of the media and issues surrounding Access to Information (ATI) Bill. 6