Satirical Censorship in Press Practice in Zambia: The Case of Newspaper Journalist Roy Clarke

Satire is generally defined as an attack on foolish behavior through the use of sarcasm. Zambia’s politicians and government authorities are uncomfortable with satirists and often try to censor publication. In January 2004, authorities attempted to deport satirist Roy Clarke, a British national but permanent resident, after he had compared them to animals. The incident, despite having happened a few years before, had lasting implications on freedom of the press and illuminated continuous authoritarian and democratic tendencies on satire. This paper critically analyzes the circumstances of the case and why the case collapsed, setting a precedent for the future of creative press practitioners.