Event Summary
On 30 September 2025, Zambia witnessed an escalating trend of threats to press freedom in Zambia, following an incident in which Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) journalist Mark Ziligone and Prince Malupande of Laka FM were assaulted by a uniformed officer, believed to be a commando, while covering a traffic accident on Lilayi Road in Lusaka. Despite displaying valid press credentials, the officer ordered them to stop filming, physically assaulted Ziligone, confiscated his phone, and deleted photos, while his colleague was also shoved and threatened. The journalists later described the experience as traumatic and a stark reminder that even accredited media professionals are vulnerable to arbitrary violence. This incident have been widely condemned by local actors, including the Media Liaison Committee (MLC), the Lusaka Press Club, and other media freedom advocacy organisations. They have denounced the actions as illegal and called on the government to swiftly end what they describe as ongoing harassment, intimidation, and attacks on journalists by law enforcement officers. This incident builds on previously reported incidents such as the arrest and detainment of journalist Thandizo Banda on 25 August 2025 and the 18 September 2025 assault of Prime TV reporter Christopher Bazilio Banda by police officers while doing his duties. Together, these events reflect a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation by state security and intelligence operatives, which is contributing to a deteriorating enabling environment for civil society, particularly in the areas of media freedom and access to information.