Supporters believed to be loyal to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema’s have allegedly attacked journalists whom they say are portraying the ruling party in a negative light, despite Hichilema’s call for media freedom. On April 8, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported two separate attacks on journalists. In Petauke, six supporters of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) went to the offices of Radio Explorer and assaulted reporter Charles Chimwemwe Banda, accusing him of collaborating to bring down the government. They kicked him in the face and head and punched him repeatedly. Meanwhile, in Serenje, at least 20 ruling party supporters beat up Male Kapema, the station manager at the privately owned broadcaster Serenje Radio, reporter Sheila Kalunga, and accountant Enoch Kile Champo. The journalists had recorded a standoff between the UPND and Socialist Party members after allegations that a Socialist Party leader had shot a UPND member.
The CPJ’s Africa programme coordinator, Angela Quintal, challenged authorities to investigate the attacks, particularly after Hichilema publicly spoke about media and press freedom. Hichilema promised at the Lusaka leg of the Democracy Summit in March that his government would not oppress freedom of expression and association. Since his election as president in August 2021, media freedom has improved after some difficult years, according to reports.
