Zambia's Election Test: Media Freedom on Thin Ice As Zambia approaches its 2026 elections, a pressing question looms over the country's media landscape: Will the democratic progress made since President Hakainde Hichilema took office in 2021 be enough to safeguard press freedom?
The answer is far from clear, and the stakes are high. Fair coverage of the election campaign hangs precariously in the balance.
One of the most significant concerns is unequal access to public media, a long standing issue that has plagued Zambia's electoral cycles.