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“A Shadow Over Democracy” reports on the July 13 to 15, 2016 press freedom mission to Zambia carried out by IPI and the African Media Initiative (AMI) in response to government pressure on opposition newspaper The Post ahead of Zambia’s August 2016 presidential election.
The report’s key finding is that the ongoing seizure of the daily’s offices and printing press in Lusaka by revenue authorities, as well as continuing attempts to hinder its ability to continue publishing, appear to be part of a politically motivated attempt by President Edgar Lungu’s Patriotic Front party to silence a persistent critic in order to hold on to power.
The report also highlights other troubling developments – including a rise in political violence and pressure on media – that have cast a shadow over Zambia’s reputation as a leader in respect for democracy and human rights in the region.