On 3rd May 2023, MISA Zambia joined the rest of the World in Commemorating the World Press Freedom Day which was held under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”.
During the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, MISA Zambia launched the Freedom of Expression (FOX) Report covering the period from July to December, 2022. The FOX report is an analysis of the State of Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom and Digital Rights in Zambia.
MISA National Director Austin Kayanda noted that the country’s inability to have an Access to Information Act remained a major challenge that impedes freedom of expression and the press.
“There is need for the speedy enactment of the Access to Information Bill to ensure information is readily available to members of the public”.
Speaking during the same event, Internews Network Zambia Chief of Party Teldah Mawarire called on Journalists to be professional and hold the Journalism career to its highest standard.
Ms Mawarire indicated that she was aware of the media’s challenges and urged them to affiliate with MISA Zambia.
Meanwhile, US Deputy Mission Director to Zambia Robin Sharma expressed concern that harassment and intimidation of Journalists continued to be witnessed worldwide.
The launch was conducted under the USAID Open Spaces Zambia (OSZ) Project.
The USAID OSZ project is funded by USAID and implemented by Internews in partnership with FHI 360. The objectives of the project are to strengthen the democratic foundations of freedom of speech and assembly; build independent and new media; and safeguard a space for activists, human rights defenders (HRDs), and oppositional voices to protect the democratic space in Zambia.
