60 country. (129) The journalists drafted a statutory media selfregulatory framework that resulted in a draft called the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) Draft Bill in November 2019. The bill is currently with the Ministry of Justice and is yet to be presented to Cabinet for approval before being presented to parliament. Representatives of the Media Liaison Committee have been engaging the ministries of justice and information on the bill. ACCESS TO INFORMATION An access to information bill has been a subject of debate since the year 2002. The first quarter of 2019, however, presented hope on the enactment of the bill into law. On 19 March 2019, the Zambia Daily Mail carried a headline, “Access to Information Bill Approved,” (130) signaling cabinet approval, but no further movement has been recorded. MEDIA FREEDOM The government has been advocating for the regulation of cyberspace, especially in relation to “fake news”. In August 2018, the cabinet approved for review the draft Cybersecurity and Cybercrimes Bill. (131) The bill was received with mixed feelings by the public, with many claiming this was a way for the government to curtail free expression online, adding to the already heavily controlled mainstream media. Civil society organisations expressed immediate concern about the bill’s potential to impinge on internet freedoms. (132) The legislation has not been made available for public scrutiny and has not been debated in the parliament. ACTION AGAINST BROADCASTERS In March 2019, the Independent Broadcast Authority suspended Prime Television’s broadcasting licence for 30 days for exhibiting unprofessional elements in its broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language. (133) On the same day, the authority also suspended Valley FM’s broadcasting licence for 60 days “due to unprofessional conduct”. The station is said to have failed to balance and moderate a discussion programme. The radio station was directed to conduct in-house training for management and engage trained journalists. The closure of Prime TV in early 2020 stems from a breakdown of relations between the television station and the government as a result of a speech delivered by Prime TV proprietor, Gerald Shawa at a meeting between the Ministry of Information and media owners. Shawa, who spoke on behalf of the media owners, admonished Information Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga in response to his request for media houses to air public service messages on a pro bono basis. (134) Shawa asked that the government should first settle outstanding dues owed to the media institutions before it could engage them in providing free airspace for sensitising people on the coronavirus. It seems this did not sit well with the government and led to the government breaking off all and any dealings with the TV station. This has led to 30 journalists losing their jobs. LEGAL ACTION A number of cases painting a restrictive legal environment have been reported during the period under review. These include: In April, 2020 a Patriotic Front cadre was found guilty of assault and theft and sentenced to two years imprisonment after assaulting Breeze FM Radio reporter Grace Lung, who was covering elections in the Mkomba area in 2019. (135) In June 2019, a Lusaka magistrate acquitted News Diggers Editor-in-Chief Joseph Mwenda and reporter Zondiwe Mbewe in a matter involving Patriotic Front cadre Newton Ngwira, who had dragged them to court for allegedly defaming Housing and Infrastructure Minister Ronald Chitotela and misrepresenting facts in a court matter. (136) This was after Ngwira told the court that he had decided to withdraw the case. Another case involves Millennium Radio station manager, Martin Akende who testified in a case of defamation of the president, following alleged defamatory remarks made by a caller on