ZIIMA condemns UPND threats on Mast editors
By Thandizo Banda
THE Zambia Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA) has expressed grave concern over recent threats directed at The Mast editors by United Party for National Development (UPND) media.
ZIIMA consultant Wilson Pondamali condemned a platform managed by the UPND media called UPND Zambia, which has warned that it would begin calling out the editors one by one for allegedly publishing content its admins have characterised as unprofessional reporting.
“We have observed a gradual but deliberate escalation of political and media intolerance by the ruling party and government. We call for an immediate end to this unbecoming conduct, as it represents a clear affront to democracy, which thrives under a free and independent media,” Pondamali said.
He said it was unfortunate that the threats were being made by ruling party members who while in opposition promised a free press and guaranteed freedom of expression.
Pondamali called out Minister of Labour and Social Services Brenda Tambatamba for issuing a press statement on government letterhead dated July 6, 2025, accusing Daily Nation, Millennium TV, and The Monitor of unfair coverage and further demanded “empty apologies” from these publications.
“While ZIIMA does not condone unprofessional journalism conduct, we find these actions constitute gross harassment of the media,” he said.
Pondamali advised the UPND and Tambatamba who felt aggrieved by alleged unprofessional conduct of the named media houses to follow established channels through which such concerns could be addressed appropriately, and not unwarranted threats and bullying.
“The channels currently being employed represent clear attempts at silencing the media, contrary to the stated beliefs of the UPND,” he said.
UPND Zambia accused The Mast of engaging in political propaganda and unprofessional reporting for publishing pictures of members of the opposition Leadership Movement (LM) party who had been injured by UPND cadres in Mbabala Constituency in Choma District, Southern Province a week ago.
The UPND media platform called the pictures “fake” but went silent after The Mast posted videos of the victims and the assailants to back its earlier content.
