These people are protesting the trial of Fred M’membe, editor of the The Post, Zambia’s leading independent daily newspaper. M’membe was supposed to be at the Freedom Forum events I’ve been attending, but by amazing coincidence the government, which loathes him and his paper, set the court dates for these two days. M’membe and his paper have been relentless in their exposing of government corruption. The charges are, among other things, defaming the president.
Press freedom is an iffy matter here, as you can see.