Police in Kasama have rounded up Radio Mano news room staff for allegedly insulting ruling Patriotic Front officials.
The PF has often accused Radio Mano of being pro-UPND with the station having clashed with law enforcement agencies especially in the heat of the August 11 elections.
Journalists Tobias Mangani, Henry Kangwa, Patrick Kabwe, Nzala Hangubo, and Abigail Musonda were arrested on Tuesday and slapped with a charge of insulting three PF officials.
The officials have repeatedly appeared on Radio programs accusing the journalists of being corrupt and sympathetic to the opposition.
Matters came to a head when the journalists sought audience with the said officials after they had appeared on a Radio program with the police intervening by arresting the journalists.
The five journalists were released on bond after spending over three hours in police cells.
In another case of government clampdown on the private media, police on Monday arrested Chipata TV news Editor Iris Mwale and charged her with one count of seditious practice.
This in connection with the story which aired on the station on September 26, 2016 in which a UPND Eastern Province official Michael Chuzu allegedly said that the opposition party will not recognise Edgar Lungu as the Republican President.
And, the two appeared before Chipata Magistrate Philip Mpundu for mention and explanation of the charge.
The matter has been adjourned to November 28, 2016 for mention.