Zambia Tax Authority Shuts Biggest Privately Owned Newspaper
- Opposition say move is government attempt to stifle free press
- Police fire teargas at Post reporters selling newspaper
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The Zambian Revenue Authority closed the country’s most-read privately-owned newspaper over disputed tax arrears and police fired teargas Wednesday at reporters selling the publication outside its office in the capital, Lusaka.
The Post, in a statement on its Facebook page, said officers from the tax authority arrived at the newsroom at 5 p.m. Tuesday and demanded the immediate payment of 68 million kwacha ($6.2 million). The officials, who the Post said were operating under instructions from the president’s office, switched off the printing presses and locked up the building, according to the statement.