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A regional media freedom advocacy consortium has written to President Hakainde Hichilema raising several concerns over the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Bill of 2025, warning that certain provisions could restrict free expression, digital rights, and media pluralism in Zambia.
In a public letter on Friday, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Chairperson Jeremias Langa, writing on behalf of the Spaces of Solidarity Forum (SoS), said that although the Bill sought to modernise the broadcasting sector, it contained “vague definitions” and “overly broad powers” that could be used to silence critical voices, criminalise citizen journalism, and stifle innovation.
“Mr President, we write to you to express our concerns regarding the IBA Bill of 2025. While the legislation’s stated purpose is to modernise Zambia’s broadcasting sector, we are concerned that certain provisions may threaten freedom of expression, digital rights, and media pluralism in Zambia,” Langa said.
He added that some clauses risk violating constitutional guarantees, including freedom of expression and access to information.
“Upon scrutiny, the Bill contains vague definitions and grants the Broadcasting Authority overly broad powers that could be easily abused,” Langa noted.
The consortium cited regional and international instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Windhoek Declaration, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, and the African Commission’s Model Law on Access to Information.
SoS highlighted five primary concerns, beginning with the definition of “broadcast content,” arguing that it should not extend to individual online users who share or stream content digitally, and that the Bill lacks a clear definition of an “online broadcast licence.”
The group also criticised the criminalisation of digital speech, warning that Sections 11 and 15 make it an offence to provide an unlicensed “broadcasting service,” punishable by fines of up to K200,000 and five years’ imprisonment.
“Given the ambiguity of what constitutes an ‘online broadcasting service,’ these provisions could be weaponised to target and imprison individuals for their legitimate online activities,” the letter reads.
SoS further warned that the requirement for the Authority to first establish a need for any new broadcasting service centralises gatekeeping power and creates “openings for political interference,” potentially excluding independent or community-based voices.
On governance issues, Langa said the board appointment process grants “absolute power” to the executive, undermining the IBA’s autonomy.
The group welcomed the introduction of a broadcast charter for ZNBC but said it must clearly define public service broadcasting, outline performance expectations, and specify penalties for failure to comply.
“We therefore humbly submit that the Zambian authorities should reconsider this position and remove criminal penalties for licensing offences and replace them with proportionate administrative fines for legitimate, licensed broadcasters who breach technical regulations,” Langa said.
Members of the SoS Forum include Bloggers of Zambia, Centre for Innovation and Technology, eBotho Cyberspace, Ink Centre for Investigative Journalism, Media Council of Malawi, MISA regional chapters, Namibia Media Trust, PANOS Southern Africa, the University of Pretoria Centre for Human Rights, and Women in News, among others.
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