Joseph Mwenda, a prominent investigative journalist in Zambia, has gained recognition for his hard-hitting reporting on environmental issues. In May 2025, his outlet, News Diggers, a digital media company specializing in investigative journalism, prepared to release a documentary examining Chinese operations in Zambia, including mining companies accused of water and soil contamination and other environmental harms. A court injunction initially blocked the documentary, highlighting the challenges journalists face when reporting on environmental violations by powerful corporate entities. The film eventually aired after successful appeals to the Lusaka High Court.
Mwenda recently spoke at a Lusaka event hosted by the Strengthening Respect for Environmental Rights in Zambia (SR4ER) program, which brought together 40 journalists for the micro-conference “Amplifying Environmental Rights Voices.” The program aimed to strengthen climate and environmental reporting. Mwenda emphasized that impactful journalism often provokes controversy and requires a spirit of defiance. He shared that his investigative work frequently attracted threats and pressure to suppress reporting, noting that such reactions often indicate that the journalism is on the right track.
The conference also featured Grevazio Zulu, a news editor and TV presenter for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). Zulu encouraged journalists to dig beyond surface-level stories, especially on environmental issues, which are often overshadowed by politics in mainstream media. He advised creative storytelling, perseverance, and collaboration with environmental scholars or organizations such as Hivos to produce impactful content that cannot be ignored.
As part of the training, participants visited Chunga dumpsite, Lusaka’s largest waste disposal site, to gain firsthand experience of the environmental and public health challenges caused by unmanaged waste. Guided by the site’s lead engineer, journalists observed the scale of garbage, informal waste pickers working without protection, and the risks of cholera outbreaks and pollution affecting nearby communities. Journalist Nkole Ngulube noted that the visit revealed untold human stories behind waste and pollution, demonstrating the breadth of angles available for reporting.
The micro-conference strengthened participants’ commitment to environmental journalism, reinforcing its importance as a mainstream issue rather than a niche topic. Mwenda highlighted that environmental reporting is fundamentally about human lives, emphasizing the need for journalists to hold power accountable and amplify community voices. SR4ER, implemented by Hivos with support from the European Union, continues to support journalists through initiatives like the weekly Climate Check program on ZNBC, fostering ongoing engagement with environmental issues in Zambia.
