Zambia: Petty Chanda Faces Criminal Investigation Over Government Officials’ Leaked Audio

Location: Zambia, Lusaka
Date: February 3, 2022

Photo Credit: ISO Media

KBN TV station manager Petty Chanda was summoned for questioning after the channel broadcasted a compromising video of members of the ruling party ahead of local by-elections. Petty was accused of destroying evidence and questioned for three hours at the police headquarters in the capital, Lusaka. The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces the police’s actions, which appear as blatant political attempts to interfere with the press. We urge the authorities to drop the criminal investigation against Petty and refrain from employing intimidation tactics to pressurize media workers.  

On January 18, KBN TV, a private channel, aired leaked audio purportedly of a conversation between President Hakainde Hichilema’s political advisor Levy Ngoma and home affairs secretary Joseph Akafumba. The two officials were allegedly planning to ban the opposition Democratic Party from participating in a local by-election. Two days later, Petty was summoned to the police headquarters in Lusaka and questioned.

On January 24, Petty was told by police that she was under investigation for destroying evidence - Section 111 of the Zambian penal code. If charged under this provision, Petty would face up to two years in jail, an undefined fine, or both, according to the penal code. 

A police spokesperson confirmed to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that Petty’s summoning and investigation was in connection with the leaked audio. The police reportedly first launched an investigation against the journalist under the controversial Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which makes it a crime to disclose or use intercepted communication.

During his campaign for the 2021 presidential election, Hichilema had vowed to repeal the contested law but he has not done so thus far. On January 20, 2022, when Petty was called in for questioning, chief government spokesperson Chushi Kasanda issued a statement defending the Act against KBN TV.

If found guilty under the controversial cyber security law, a penalty of up to 300,000 kwacha, 10 years in jail, or both, may be imposed on the convict, according to Section 31 (3) of the law. 

Quoting this Act, Kasanda tweeted that “it is illegal for a person to access, disclose or attempt to disclose to another person, the content of any intercepted communication or use or attempt to use, the contents of any intercepted communication”. In a separate statement, issued in official capacity, Kasanda reportedly referred to KBN TV as “unprofessional” for broadcasting the leaked audio without verifying it.

According to the Cyber security & crimes Act No. 2 of the 2021, it is illegal for a person to access, disclose or attempt to disclose to another person, the content of any intercepted communication or use or attempt to use, the contents of any intercepted communication.

— Chushi Kasanda (@KasandaChushi) January 21, 2022

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the weaponization of law and state institutions to intimidate journalists for political gains. We call on the authorities to drop the criminal investigation launched against Petty Chanda. Instead of using the law to harass members of the press, the Zambian authorities would do better to investigate incidents of wrong doing brought to light by dedicated reporters. The measures taken against Petty reflect poorly on democracy in the country. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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