Event Summary
On 18 September 2025 in Chipata, Zambia, Prime TV reporter Christopher Bazilio Banda was assaulted by police officers while documenting a joint operation between the Zambia Police and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA). Banda was attacked and had his mobile phone confiscated as he filmed the impounding of unregistered motorbikes. The motive for the assault remains unclear. Media civil society organizations, including the Eastern Press Club, swiftly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of press freedom and a threat to the media’s watchdog role. The Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Mr. Robertson Mweemba, expressed regret over the officer’s conduct, and both the officer and senior police officials have since apologized to Mr. Banda and the media community.
This incident follows the unlawful detention of another journalist, Thandizo Banda, less than a month prior, highlighting a troubling pattern of intimidation against the media by law enforcement. These repeated assaults on journalists undermine constitutional guarantees of press freedom and signal a deteriorating environment for civil society. The proximity of such incidents, especially ahead of the 2026 elections, raises concerns about the safety of independent media and the shrinking space for civic engagement.