A Better Newspaper

## Overview The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has written to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema expressing concern over recent attacks on journalists and legislation negatively impacting the media, ahead of Zambia hosting the United Nations' World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference on May 3 (CPJ, April 2026). ## Key Details - Conference date: May 3, 2026, in Zambia - CPJ's letter calls on Hichilema to create a safe environment for the media (CPJ, April 2026) - The letter cites recent attacks on journalists and media-related legislation in Zambia ## Strategic Context Zambia hosting the global World Press Freedom Day event places international scrutiny on its own press freedom record. CPJ's letter suggests a tension between Zambia's role as host/champion of press freedom and its domestic record on media treatment, a dynamic that could shape how the conference is received internationally. ## Why It Matters This situates Zambia within a broader global narrative of press freedom challenges tracked by CPJ across multiple countries (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkey, etc.). The outcome — whether Hichilema addresses these concerns before or during the conference — could affect Zambia's international standing and the credibility of the World Press Freedom Day event itself. ## Developments to Watch - Hichilema's response to CPJ's letter - Any policy or legislative changes ahead of May 3 - Media freedom conditions during and after the conference - International reactions to Zambia's hosting role given the concerns raised