Zambia Media Critique

By Bruce Chooma ZAMBIA’s press freedom record continues on a downward spiral with a government decision to shut down some independent broadcasting houses on Monday 22 nd August, 2016 on allegations of unprofessional conduct in the pre-election and post-election period. This comes a few months after the biggest independent newspaper The Post which was very critical of the ruling party and government was ground to a halt for alleged tax violations. The Independent Broadcasting Authority IBA suspended broadcasting licences for Muvi TV, Komboni Radio and Itezhi Tezhi Radio. The suspension took immediate effect on Monday and state law enforcement agencies swung into action to enforce the suspension. According to a statement from IBA Chairman Brigadier Justin Mutale, the IBA board met on Monday morning and resolved to withdraw licences for the three independent media houses. Brigadier General Justin Mutale said the decision followed what he described as the unprofessional conduct in whi...

Zambians beat their own record on Thursday 11 th August, 2016 when they turned up in large numbers and braved the scorching sun in long and winding queues as they waited for hours to cast their vote. The 2016 general elections came with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement given that the country was voting under new electoral regulations after amending the constitution earlier in the year. The polls also had the biggest number of voters in the country’s history with over 1.6 million new voters added mainly young people born in the 1990s. After many hours of waiting beyond the expected 48 hours, Edgar Lungu was declared as President-elect with Inonge Wina as Vice President with 50.4% of valid votes cast. The Patriotic Front also clearly six out of ten provinces, demonstrating what analysts have described as a very wide rural and urban reach.  Mrs Wina has become the first directly elected Vice President of Zambia. Mr Lungu has become the first candidate to secure above 50% of...

Mongu-Kalabo Road: Photo: Zambian Eye By Bruce Chooma Should the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) succeed to lose tomorrow’s election, what memories will Zambians hold of a party many loved for its pro-poor ideologies and populist political strategy? In 2011   under the leadership of Michael Sata, in polls widely lauded as free and fair, the PF made history on the African continent by unseating a ruling party. This is a feat that is so rare on the African continent and PF maybe the only party to hold that record in the past two decades in sub-Saharan Africa. Should the PF lose this election, they will be the shortest serving political party in Zambia’s history after doing only one five year term though with two different Presidents. Despite the significant mutation in the complexion of PF from the PF under Michael Sata to the PF under Edgar Lungu, it cannot be denied that the PF has had an impact on Zambia’s political and infrastructure landscape. Ardent supporters of ...