Efforts to establish effective media regulation for journalists in Zambia have faced persistent challenges. Since the early 2000s, when self-regulation initiatives began, the local media landscape has remained fragmented.
The first significant attempt came in 2002, when the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) jointly formed the Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ), officially launched in 2004. However, MECOZ failed to function as an effective regulatory body. According to the International Press Institute (IPI) in its 2010 Media Report, MECOZ’s collapse was largely due to The Post newspaper’s lack of participation and the refusal of state-owned media to comply with its decisions.
In response, the Media Liaison Committee resolved in late 2008 that a new and improved regulatory framework was needed. This led to the formation of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC), but it too failed to gain traction and did not take off.
This past week, Zambia’s journalism community found itself once again divided. As World Press Freedom Day was commemorated on May 3, a day dedicated to defending free media and celebrating journalism as a profession, the split among journalists over regulatory approaches became starkly visible.
Two separate events were held. One, organized by the Media Liaison Committee (MLC), took place at the Government Complex and included participants from state-owned media, the Ministry of Information and Media, and a few private media houses. Meanwhile, the other event, held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, brought together MISA, the Media Owners Association of Zambia, and various private media journalists.
This year’s theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” ignited global discussions on the complex challenges posed by digital innovation.