Zambia Media Critique

The international community has stood in solidarity with human rights activists in Zambia who are opposed to the enactment of a new mental health legislation for failure to comply with human rights standards. The Zambian government seems to have left out crucial submissions made by stakeholders during the consultation process and produced a draft which has not been well received even by representatives of persons with mental illnesses and disabilities. In a solidarity statement signed by ten international organisations and experts including Amnesty International, Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD), Disability Rights International, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and Validity Foundation – Mental Disability Advocacy Centre, serious concerns have arisen on the text of the Bill. In recent years, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has criticized Zambia’s outdated laws applicab

Zambian authorities have continued to use state institutions to muzzle the independent press. The crackdown seems to always heighten around election periods. The latest victim is Prime Television which has received a one month suspension of broadcast license together with private radio station Valley FM and revoked two licences of Ngoma and Kafue radio stations for breaches associated with content relating to the coverage of recent by-election in which the ruling party lost. Announcing the suspension IBA Board Secretary Josephine Mapoma says Prime Television has been suspended for exhibiting unprofessional elements in its broadcasting through unbalanced coverage, opinionated news, material likely to incite violence and use of derogatory language.  She adds that during the suspension the station is expected to conduct in house training on basic journalism ethics and news script writing.  A few days before the suspension, media freedom watchdog The African Freedom of Expression