At a glance-
ZAMBIA TRANSPARENCY ASSESSMENT 2018
The Citizens' Analysis of Government Openness
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Freedom of the Press 2016: Zambia
Supporters of the ruling party repeatedly used force to disrupt radio broadcasts featuring opposition leaders during the year, and violently attacked two journalists investigating possible election fraud in December.
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Freedom on the Net 2015: Zambia
"Government officials repeatedly issued threats to shutdown select websites and blogs"
23 January 1998
Alert
Mwanza tortured in detention
Incident details
Frederick Mwanza journalist(s) detained(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Sans Fronti=E8res is most concerned about the=
plight
of Frederick Mwanza, a freelance journalist, who was served on 2 December
1997 with a presidential detention order allowing the police to hold him
indefinitely under the state of emergency currently in force in Zambia. The
journalist has been held for nearly two months, since his arrest on 14
November. According to his lawyer, Mwanza was tortured during interrogation
over several articles he had written critical of the government.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 31 December and 27 November 1997**
Background Information
Mwanza, who has in the past written several newspaper articles critical of
government policies, was detained on 14 November 1997 under the Preservation
of Public Security Act in connection with the failed coup of 28 October.
Authorities allege that Mwanza was present at a meeting finalising the coup
plot against the government of President Frederick Chiluba. While in prison,
Mwanza has been questioned about his writings (see IFEX alert).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
Convenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 7 of which condemns
torture or any cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and article 19 of
which guarantees the freedom to inform and to be informed
is
connected with his
professional duties=20
Appeals To
President Frederick Chiluba
President of the Republic of Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia
Fax: +260 1 221939
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source
Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Fax:+33 1 45 23 11 51
- Most covered free expression issues in this country