STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA The Mast Newspaper of 1st June, ran an article, “ZICTA angers WhatsApp users over threats on group admins,”8 in which the public expressed displeasure stating that WhatsApp was a private communication platform. Reacting to the threats, Radio and TV personality Michael Ndhlovu described the demand by ZICTA as outrageous. Mr. Ndhlovu protested against the idea of snooping in citizens‟ private affairs labeling the act as tyrannical and a ploy to have the citizens live in fear of an invisible hand. “This is unacceptable and against the human rights. This is a total tyrannical state of affairs this country is slipping into and it‟s sad to live in fear in our own country just because an invisible hand is scared of the unknown in WhatsApp groups. At the time when the world is fully matured into a global village through ICTs, Zambia through ZICTA is being drawn away from the reality of things on the ground. First ZICTA must acknowledge that groups of WhatsApp are a private matter hence joining being through admins. The creators of WhatsApp application made this seamless communication tool so people can come up with communities among them and discuss their matters,” Ndhlovu said. According to a story published by The Mast Newspaper on 3rd June, 2018, Alliance for Community Action Executive Director Laura Miti said government wanted to regulate private use of social media because they want to protect their “nonsense”9. “The only reason government would want to regulate private use of social media is because citizens are using it effectively, to keep each other informed about the excesses of those in power. They don‟t want us to know; don‟t want us to ask questions. They want to be able to go off to New York and jump on a cruise using our money, get multi-million dollar gifts in foreign countries, inflate tenders, push violence and hatred – they want to do all that and those who find out should not be able to let others know,” Miti stated. 8 The Mast Newspaper – ZICTA angers WhatsApp users over threats on group admins – 1st June, 2018 The Mast Newspaper - Govt wants to protect its „nonsense‟ using social media regulation, says Laura Miti – 3rd June, 2018 9 12