Who Protects the Watchdogs?

As Zambia prepares for general elections, journalists report intimidation, attacks and growing self-censorship despite repeated government assurances that press freedom will be protected.

By Womba Kasela

Nearly five years after President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) came to power promising democratic reforms and greater media freedom, journalists across Zambia continue to report intimidation, harassment and political interference.

The allegations come as Zambia prepares for general elections on 13 August 2026.

Only months before the Mpongwe incident, the Zambia Police Service publicly declared that the safety of journalists was “non-negotiable”.

Speaking at a police-media dialogue forum in Livingstone in September 2025, police assured journalists and human rights defenders that media practitioners would be allowed to operate freely without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence.

Yet interviews conducted by MakanDay suggest a widening gap between those assurances and the experiences of journalists working across the country.

The Mpongwe incident

Mpongwe Radio Station Director Machova Musanshi said a paid-for programme was airing around 20:00 hours when the officer-in-charge at Mpongwe Police Station and two other officers entered the station and ordered the presenter to stop the broadcast.

The programme featured two UPND members openly expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of intra-party elections held earlier that day.

Musanshi says suspected UPND cadres entered the station shortly afterwards and the programme was abruptly halted.

“This was not the first time we faced threats,” Musanshi told MakanDay.

He alleged that cadres had previously threatened to shut down the station for hosting voices perceived to be critical of government or the ruling party.

He further claimed that police had at one point prevented opposition members from appearing on radio, allegedly arguing they lacked the necessary permit.

The station did not report the incident, questioning how it could seek justice from the same officers accused of interfering with the programme.

Attempts to obtain a response from the Zambia Police Service were unsuccessful. Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi’s phone was repeatedly unreachable, and subsequent calls went unanswered. He also did not respond to WhatsApp messages seeking comment.

Efforts to obtain comment from the officer-in-charge and a senior officer to whom we were referred also yielded no response.

A pattern beyond Mpongwe

The Mpongwe incident is not an isolated case.

According to data provided by MISA Zambia, 35 media freedom violations were recorded between 2022 and 2025. MISA says most involved attacks, threats, intimidation, censorship or unlawful arrests linked to political actors or public officials.

Community radio stations are particularly vulnerable because they frequently host live programmes that allow citizens and political actors to express their views directly.

In December 2022, PASME Radio journalist Lovemore Phiri was allegedly assaulted by suspected UPND cadres while hosting a breakfast programme in Petauke, the Eastern Province.

The programme focused on complaints from farmers over delays in the distribution of agricultural inputs. As criticism mounted during the broadcast, Phiri says two cadres entered the station and demanded that the programme be stopped.

“When I resisted, they switched off the main power line, which shut down the station automatically. They grabbed my phone and K300 cash before leaving,” he said.

Phiri said he later attempted to flee after seeing cadres waiting outside the station but was allegedly pursued before local residents intervened. Police arrested two suspects he identified, but he says they spent only one night in custody and the case remains unresolved nearly three years later.

“Whenever I follow up, I am told investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

Former Serenje Radio journalist Sheila Kalunga reported being physically assaulted by suspected UPND cadres at Serenje Police Station during a ward by-election in 2023. Online journalist Gilbert Simaanza says he has also received threats linked to his reporting and social media publications.

The hidden cost: Self-censorship

Beyond physical attacks and online threats, journalists say fear itself has become a powerful form of censorship. Several journalists interviewed by MakanDay described routinely avoiding certain stories because of concerns about retaliation.

One journalist said: “Even when I know I can work on a story, I avoid certain topics because I fear being threatened. I have been threatened before.”

Media freedom advocates warn that self-censorship is becoming increasingly common, particularly among journalists working in rural districts where political actors often wield significant influence over local media institutions.

Justice rarely comes

MISA Zambia National Director Austin Kayanda says accountability remains one of the biggest challenges. According to Kayanda, MISA has supported 39 media freedom cases that reached court level over the past decade. Yet very few result in meaningful justice.

“Some cases are settled out of court, others are withdrawn, while some journalists are pressured not to continue,” he said. “The challenge is that some journalists are threatened by employers while others are offered money to settle quietly.”

Kayanda said some media institutions themselves are reluctant to pursue cases because of political or commercial relationships.

The legal environment

Media rights advocates say threats to press freedom extend beyond physical attacks. Free Press Initiative Executive Director Joan Chirwa argues that recently enacted cyber-related legislation risks creating additional barriers for journalists.

“The government ignored our plea on certain provisions in the cyber security laws that violate freedom of expression,” she said.

Chirwa argues that Zambia’s Constitution should provide stronger and more explicit protections for press freedom. She also expressed concern about the conduct of law enforcement officers.

“There are incidents where journalists are attacked by political cadres in front of police officers and they do not intervene, especially when ruling party cadres are involved,” she said.

Progress and persistent concerns

International observers acknowledge that Zambia’s media environment has improved since the change of government in 2021. According to the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Zambia improved from 115th place in 2021 to 77th place globally in 2025.

However, the organisation warns that the legislative environment remains fragile and that journalists critical of authorities can still face questioning, detention and intimidation.

Journalists interviewed for this investigation say improvements recognised internationally have not always translated into greater safety on the ground, particularly outside major urban centres.

Government response

Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana acknowledged that attacks on journalists have occurred but maintained they are isolated incidents rather than a widespread pattern.

Kawana told MakanDay that government remains committed to protecting journalists and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable.

He assured journalists that government would protect media practitioners before, during and after the elections.

Who protects the watchdogs?

For journalists such as Lovemore Phiri, those assurances offer little comfort.

Nearly three years after reporting his alleged attackers to police, he says he still has no answers.

Today, he thinks carefully before discussing politically sensitive issues on air.

The contradiction remains unresolved.

International rankings suggest Zambia’s media environment has improved since 2021. But for journalists working far from Lusaka, press freedom is measured less by rankings than by whether they can report controversial stories without fear of intimidation, violence or political interference. As election day approaches, that question remains unanswered.

This article was produced by MakanDay’s Local Reporting Network. Subscribe through our website and follow our Facebook page to receive stories like this one as soon as they are published.