{{Recent arrests of journalists and blocked access to critical websites in Zambia have sparked concerns of a clampdown on media freedom under President Michael Sata’s government.}}<\/p>\n
Prior to the 2011 elections that ushered Sata into power, the then-opposition leader promised to free the media from government interference.<\/p>\n
But immediately after taking office, he sacked journalists who had been critical of him as well as the heads of state television and newspapers.<\/p>\n
In June the government blocked local access to the Zambian Watchdog, a hard-hitting online newspaper.<\/p>\n
This month police detained three journalists with ostensible links to the publication, which does not publish its reporters’ names.<\/p>\n
Clayson Hamasaka and Thomas Zyambo were held in Lusaka without charge for more than 24 hours after police night-time raids.<\/p>\n
Zyambo was eventually arrested and charged with “being in possession of seditious material with intent to publish”.<\/p>\n
Police had found him with hand-written biographical notes on Sata.<\/p>\n
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