About IFEX:

News by region:

IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy:

IFEX Email Products:

Opportunities and assistance:

MISA CHAPTER THREATENED

On 2 February, the Zambian Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Newstead Zimba threatened to take "drastic action" against the Media Institute of Southern Africa's (MISA) Zambian chapter, the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA), and the Inter-African Network for Human Rights and Development (AFRONET). Accusing the organisations of being "agents of foreign sponsors," Zimba stated that ZIMA and AFRONET have "betrayed" the nation and the government. The attack comes in response to the organisations' claim that Zimba's "ministry had influenced the decision of Radio Phoenix to cancel the phone-in programme "Let the People Talk", which focused on a strike and subsequent dismissal of junior doctors in Lusaka and Kitwe." ZIMA's and AFRONET's intervention into that process resulted in the reinstatement of the programme, reports MISA.

According to the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), this attack constitutes a "real threat to the civil society and the development of democracy in Zambia." Only days before the attack, AFRONET and another human rights organisation, the Zambia Independent Monitoring Team (ZIMT), were accused by another senior member of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of being "reckless and irresponsible," says MISA. On 31 January, MMD's chair for information and publicity Vernon Mwaanga threatened that the government would "withdraw recognition" from AFRONET and ZIMT if they continued their "irresponsible conduct."