ZAMBIA has made commendable progress in advancing press freedom, but the gains remain vulnerable to restrictive cyber laws, political influence and the economic fragility of media institutions, the 2026 Southern Africa Press Freedom Report (SAPFR) has highlighted. The report notes that courts increasingly issued injunctions to block investigative programmes, marking a rise in judicial restrictions on editorial freedom. The report has cited the interim injunction earlier issued against the News Diggers documentary on Chinese mining interests in 2025. The report further urges governments and media stakeholders to prioritise policy reforms that strengthen media independence, ensure journalists’ safety and promote the financial sustainability of news organisations. The report, which was launched during the World Press Freedom Day Conference, noted that sustained...