Zambian editor released on bail
Fred M'membe, editor of the Zambian daily Post, was released from prison on 7 June after three days, pending an appeal. On 4 June he was sentenced to four months of hard labour for contempt of court.
The charge arose from the publication of an opinion piece by a US-based Zambian legal professor during the trial of Post news editor, Chansa Kabwela, in August 2009. Ms Kabwela was charged with obscenity offences after emailing officials, including the health minister, photographs of a woman giving birth outside a hospital in Lusaka during a hospital strike. The Post did not publish the photos. In October 2009, a court ruled that Ms Kabwela had no case to answer.
The Post - a former MDLF client - is well known for its criticism of the government. Mr M'membe and his paper have suffered numerous acts of intimidation during the Post's 19-year existence.
Mr M'membe attended last month's MDLF Media Forum in Slovakia. Watch an interview in which he explains the role The Post plays in the life of Zambia and why he continues to support the causes of freedom and fairness.
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