Chinoyi Chipulu
A consortium of Civil Society Organisations says it is hypocritical and counterproductive to commemorate World Press Freedom Day with beautiful speeches while at the same time, passing laws that undermine the spirit and letter of press freedom.
And the civil society Organisations have charged that once the newly enacted Cyber Crime and Cyber laws under the guise of public order and digital security are implemented, they had the potential to be routinely used to intimidate, surveil, and silence journalists and whistleblowers in exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and association.
In a statement, consortium chairperson Isaac Mwanza stated while the government leaders would be giving glowing speeches about media freedom on a single day, their actions in Parliament, government and courts often portrayed a deep reluctance to uphold the very freedoms they claimed to protect.
Mwanza stated that true commitment was shown in law and policy, not just in rhetoric.
He stated that press freedom was not a favour from government but a right enshrined in the Constitution and international instruments, hence essential to a democratic future.
“The consortium joins the global community in commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2025, under the theme, ‘the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism, media, and human rights.’ In doing so, we reflect not only on the importance of press freedom globally, but also on the urgent realities threatening it here at home,” he stated.
He stated that press freedom was not a privilege for journalists but a fundamental right of society, a safeguard that enabled citizens to know the truth, to hold power accountable, and to participate meaningfully in democracy.
“A press that is free to investigate and expose corruption, mis-governance, and authoritarianism is not a threat – it is a national asset,” he stated.
He stated that under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and his new administration, Zambia made a bold and promising step in the right direction with the long-awaited enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) Law.
He stated that the President’s strong public pronouncements in support of press freedom gave hope to many – journalists, civil society, and ordinary citizens alike , who believed that a new chapter had begun for freedom of expression in Zambia.
“However, it is with deep concern that we note how this progress is being steadily undermined by a parallel trend: the continued enactment and retention of repressive legislation, most notably the colonial-era Penal Code Act of 1931, the newly enacted Cyber Crimes Act and Cyber Security Act of 2025, and official secrecy laws which remains un-repealed,” he stated. “It was not enough to speak about freedom, we must legislate and govern in ways that protect and promote it.”
He stated that regrettably, the environment for media practitioners in Zambia today was increasingly becoming hostile.
” The gains we had begun to make by passing the ATI law are being eroded, and we are witnessing a worrying exodus of journalists, especially young aspirants, who are abandoning their callings out of fear for their personal safety and liberty. This chilling effect is a silent but powerful form of repression – one that endangers the very fabric of our democracy,” he stated.
Mwanza stated that the consortium called on President Hichilema to guide his administration in aligning its actions with his words.
He also urged the President and his government to champion reforms that fostered a safe and enabling environment for journalists and civil society actors, one that was free from fear, intimidation, and legal persecution.
“Additionally, we call on the government to halt the enactment of new restrictive legislation, such as the NGO Bill, which poses a serious threat to freedom of association and expression,” stated Mwanza.
