STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBA the Electronic Commerce Bill and Data Protection Bill. “Mr. Mushimba said once passed into laws the Bills will have enough teeth to bite the abusers of social media, we hope so”. “We appeal to the members of Parliament to support these bills because they will benefit the country”. The Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba said government was expected to have a blue print to guide the establishment of a cyber security unit aimed at protecting the country against cyber attacks during the quarter under review. The minister said government was in a process of establishing a cyber security institute to prevent cyber attacks, especially as the country is digitalizing its economy. He said this when Cyber Security for Government (CyGov) chief strategy officer Eli Ben-Meir called on him at his office. CyGov is an Israeli leading cyber security advisory which has pledged to share knowledge and skills that can enhance cyber security in Zambia.23 Online media has come under serious threats in the name of national security. The rising of citizen journalism seems not to be sitting well with the current government which from research and in-depth interviews with experts suggests that the current government is the worst when it comes to them accommodating divergent views or opposing views from other stakeholders and people in general. Zambia belong to the people and not the Political Party in power, and so it is hoped that the Bills to be tabled in parliament are just not meant to completely shut down online media platforms that are widely used by those on the line of rail to access information. 7.0 Media alerts and communiqués in the2ndquarter 2017 7.1.1 11th May 2017 (The Mast Newspaper) Media freedom Press freedom a fundamental right Press Freedom is a fundamental right as it enables sharing of critical information that others may not want to listen to said Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga. Giving a talk to journalism students at Mindolo Ecumenical 23 Daily Nation 16th May , 2017 25 | P a g e