"“It has always been like that to a certain extent; it is even worse now,” opposition National Democratic Party leader Saboi Imboela told DW, arguing state-owned media gives more coverage to the ruling party, while opposition voices largely rely on private outlets."
"“It is more open than in the past, but still fragile,” MISA Zambia vice chairperson Kennedy Mbulo told DW. “Financial challenges, dependence on advertising, and political influence and pressure continue to affect editorial independence.”"
"“We still have a number of punitive laws that negatively affect journalism, including provisions on sedition in the Penal Code, the State Security Act, and cyber laws,” said Joan Ch"
Media freedom advocates say democratic progress will be tested by how freely journalists can report during the campaign period. Improvements since President Hakainde Hichilema took office in 2021 are acknowledged, but structural, legal, and economic pressures continue to threaten independent journalism. Unequal access to public media is a major concern, with state-owned outlets providing more coverage to the ruling party while opposition voices rely largely on private media. Analysts warn that unequal visibility can undermine public trust and democratic participation. The media environment is described as more open but still fragile, affected by financial challenges, advertising dependence, and political influence. Election periods increase pressure on journalists, especially those covering corruption, governance, and campaigns, while punitive laws create fear despite reforms.
Read at www.dw.com
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