Recent legal actions in Zambia have sparked significant concerns about press freedom within the country. On Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed apprehensions over an interim injunction by the Zambian High Court. This court order blocked News Diggers, a Zambian media outlet, from airing a documentary investigating Chinese investments in the country, following a lawsuit by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia. The legal claim arose after a teaser of the documentary aired on May 20.
The High Court’s injunction prevents the documentary’s release until a hearing scheduled for June 12. If News Diggers violates this order, the outlet risks contempt of court charges with consequences including six months’ imprisonment or a fine of approximately US$12 (300 kwacha). This legal maneuver has been criticized for its implications on press freedom, as CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, Muthoki Mumo, noted that it exemplifies threats against journalistic expression in Zambia.
This episode is not occurring in a vacuum but rather amid an increasingly restrictive regulatory climate for media in Zambia. In 2021, President Hakainde Hichilema saw the enactment of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act. This legislation has been criticized for providing law enforcement extensive surveillance powers and possessing loosely defined cyber offenses, prompting warnings from entities, including the U.S. government, about potential misuse to suppress journalistic endeavors.
Moreover, Zambia’s Penal Code Act, which continues to criminalize defamation and sedition, has historically served as a tool against journalists. The interplay of these cyber laws and existing statutes has fostered an inhospitable atmosphere for free press initiatives.
As the court hearing approaches, civil organizations and global media watchdogs are closely monitoring the situation, considering its potential impacts on the freedom of expression and journalism in Zambia. The international community is watching to see how Zambia’s judicial system will either reinforce or further limit the scope of accountable, independent journalism.