As the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia joins the international community in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, the Institute observes that despite the clear affirmations of the importance of press freedom, journalists continue to face significant challenges in carrying out their work.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Fr. Barnabas Simatende reveals that through its State of the Media Reports in 2022 still recorded cases of media violations, which included physical attacks on journalists and storming of radio stations against the proclamations by President Hakainde Hichilema on his commitment to ensuring the safety of journalists.
Dr. Simatende states that to promote and defend press freedom, the Zambian government should ensure the independence of the media and ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of harassment.
He adds that on occasion of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, MISA Zambia has called upon authorities to hold those carrying out acts of impunity against the journalists to be arrested and brought to account before the courts.
This year’s Press Freedom Day theme is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”
