President Hichilema Reaffirms Commitment to Press Freedom at UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Conference

President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to defending, upholding and promoting a vibrant and independent media, describing press freedom as essential to building a future rooted in peace, accountability and democratic progress.

In a speech read on his behalf by Media and Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Global Conference in Lusaka, the President said his government remained strongly committed to upholding media freedoms and ensuring the safety of journalists across the country.

President Hichilema highlighted significant progress made under the New Dawn Administration, pointing to the full restoration of the rule of law and the end of political violence. He noted that no media house in Zambia has been intimidated or closed since 2021, marking a clear shift from the past and reinforcing Zambia's growing reputation as a regional leader in press freedom.

The President also welcomed the rapid expansion of the country's media landscape, with the number of registered media houses rising from 147 in 2021 to 259 in 2025, an increase he said reflected the freedom and confidence now enjoyed across the sector.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Mariya Gabriel told delegates that meaningful global progress had been made on access to information, noting that 139 UN member states have now adopted legal guarantees protecting the public's right to know.

Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO Takehiro Kano stressed the importance of safeguarding press freedom in the face of disinformation, AI-generated misinformation and rising violence against journalists worldwide.