FREEDOM, SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

As Government defends cyber laws as ZNBC embraces reforms while MISA pushes for stronger digital rights protection

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (30-06-2026) -- Government has defended Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes laws, arguing that citizens’ rights in the digital space must be exercised with the same level of responsibility expected in everyday life.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media Thabo Kawana, during the launch of the Digital Rights Report 2026 and the ZNBC Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard Report, Director for Press and Media Development Modern Mayembe said digital technologies had become central to Zambia’s economic growth, democratic participation, education, healthcare and national development.

Mayembe said Government was committed to building a digitally empowered Zambia where citizens could freely access information, participate in the digital economy and express themselves in a safe and secure online environment.

He said the country’s digital transformation agenda was built around protecting human rights, privacy, freedom of expression and access to information, stressing that technological advancement and human rights should complement each other rather than compete.

Mayembe said digital rights were increasingly becoming an extension of rights enjoyed offline because people’s daily lives had moved into cyberspace.

He said citizens should apply the same standards of conduct online as they would in physical public spaces.

“The question should not be whether you have a lawyer before making an online comment. The question should be whether what you want to say is something you would be prepared to say in a public place offline,” Mayembe said.

He said individuals who would not insult teachers at school, religious leaders in church or members of the public in physical settings should not assume such behaviour was acceptable simply because communication had shifted online.

Mayembe said Zambia had not created entirely new rules for cyberspace, but had extended existing legal protections to cover the digital environment as society continued to evolve.

He said Government remained committed to strengthening policy, legal and institutional frameworks to promote affordable and meaningful internet access, protect personal data, provide secure digital services and ensure equal access to online opportunities for women, children, persons with disabilities and rural communities.

However, Mayembe said digital rights also came with responsibilities.

He warned that while digital platforms had created opportunities for innovation, civic participation and communication, they had also contributed to challenges such as misinformation, disinformation, cyberbullying, online fraud, hate speech, digital scams and the misuse of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

He said Government wanted digital platforms to remain spaces that promote freedom of expression while encouraging accountability, accuracy, respect and public safety.

Mayembe urged citizens to improve their digital literacy, verify information before sharing it, engage respectfully online, protect children from harmful digital content and work together to address online threats without undermining fundamental freedoms.

He also challenged critics of Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes laws to first read and understand the legislation before condemning it.

Mayembe said many people had criticised the laws without reading them, resulting in misunderstandings about their provisions.

He said the fact that other countries had laws with similar names did not mean the contents were identical, adding that Zambia had developed its legislation to protect citizens rather than restrict their freedoms.

“The absence of these laws will not make you freer. It will only make you more exposed,” Mayembe said.

He acknowledged that some provisions could require review over time but maintained that several concerns raised by critics were based on misinterpretation.

Mayembe cited provisions governing investigators’ handling of digital evidence, saying the law prohibited investigators from sharing private material obtained during investigations in order to protect the privacy and dignity of victims and suspects.

He dismissed claims that such provisions could criminalise investigative journalism, describing such interpretations as inaccurate.

Mayembe further cautioned against the belief that having legal representation protects individuals from criminal liability.

“A lawyer does not protect the guilty. Lawyers ensure that legal processes are followed fairly, but they do not excuse criminal conduct,” he said.

He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to creating an environment where journalists, broadcasters, content creators and media institutions could operate professionally, responsibly and sustainably.

Mayembe said the findings contained in the Digital Rights Report 2026 and the ZNBC Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard Report would contribute to national dialogue and support evidence-based policymaking as Zambia continues shaping its digital future.

Meanwhile, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has welcomed the findings of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia’s Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard Report, describing the assessment as an opportunity to strengthen reforms, improve transparency and enhance public accountability.

ZNBC Acting Director General Reuben Kajokoto said the corporation appreciated MISA Zambia and its research team for conducting what he described as a comprehensive assessment of ZNBC’s operations, legal environment and public standing.

Kajokoto said the corporation had carefully considered both the challenges identified in the report and the recognition of its existing strengths.

He said ZNBC viewed the report not as criticism of its operations, but as constructive feedback that would help guide future reforms and improve service delivery.

“We view this assessment not as a critique, but as valuable operational feedback that ZNBC will use to guide reforms and improve service delivery moving forward,” Kajokoto said.

He said public broadcasters must regularly assess their performance against international standards and public expectations, adding that independent assessments help strengthen public confidence in national broadcasting institutions.

Kajokoto said ZNBC was encouraged by the report’s recognition of the corporation’s strengths, including its nationwide broadcasting reach, news and current affairs programming, investment in local language broadcasting, public interest content and the professionalism of its employees.

He said ZNBC’s ability to reach communities across the country, including remote areas that remain underserved by commercial broadcasters, remains central to its public service mandate.

Kajokoto said the corporation had taken note of concerns raised in the report regarding editorial independence and freedom of expression.

Responding to the concerns, he said ZNBC already had comprehensive editorial governance structures guiding its journalistic and broadcasting activities.

He explained that the corporation had newsroom editorial policies, news programme guidelines and producers’ guidelines that provide standards for news gathering, content production and editorial decision-making.

Kajokoto acknowledged that although the policies had not been widely publicised, they remained operational and continued to guide editorial work.

He said ZNBC was ready to share the documents with MISA Zambia and other stakeholders to demonstrate that the editorial framework already exists.

“We are ready to share these documents with MISA Zambia so that stakeholders appreciate that they are already in place,” he said.

Kajokoto said the recently enacted ZNBC (Amendment) Act No. 26 of 2025 would further strengthen the corporation’s institutional autonomy through improved governance arrangements, a transparent board appointment process and stronger oversight mechanisms.

Although the law is awaiting commencement through a formal order, he said internal preparations had already started to align ZNBC’s policies and structures with the new legal framework.

Kajokoto said the corporation supported recommendations aimed at improving accountability, including the proposal for annual reports measuring diversity in its coverage across languages, geographical regions, gender, youth and persons with disabilities.

He said ZNBC would establish monitoring systems to collect, analyse and publish data on representation across its platforms.

According to Kajokoto, the initiative would improve transparency and enable the corporation to measure how effectively it was serving all sections of the Zambian population.

He said the recommendation for transparent multi-sectoral board appointments had been addressed through the amended legislation, which provides for broader participation in selecting board members.

Kajokoto added that the revised legal framework provides for stronger reporting requirements, including annual reports to Parliament and increased oversight by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

He said ZNBC would also be required to hold annual public meetings where citizens could engage with the corporation on its performance, achievements and challenges.

Turning to digital transformation, Kajokoto said ZNBC welcomed the recommendation for a comprehensive Digital Public Service Broadcasting Strategy and revealed that work on such a strategy was already underway.

He said the strategy would provide a roadmap for improving live streaming services, strengthening audience engagement, expanding digital platforms and ensuring ZNBC remains relevant in a changing media environment.

Kajokoto said the corporation recognised that changing audience habits required greater investment in digital innovation while maintaining its traditional public service responsibilities.

He said ZNBC was encouraged by the report’s positive assessment of its online and social media performance, saying the findings showed growing public confidence in the corporation’s digital platforms.

Meanwhile, MISA Zambia has called for stronger protection of digital rights, warning that freedoms enjoyed by citizens offline must equally be safeguarded online.

Speaking during the launch of the Digital Rights Report 2026 and the Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard Report, MISA Zambia Chairperson Laurine Mwanza said digital platforms had become central to civic participation, access to information and democratic engagement.

Mwanza said technology had transformed the way citizens consume information, participate in political processes and express their views, making digital rights an important part of human rights.

“Digital rights are no longer a separate category of rights. Digital rights are human rights,” Mwanza said.

She said Zambia’s media environment was undergoing a major transition from traditional broadcasting platforms such as radio and television to digital streaming services, online news platforms and social media channels.

Mwanza said digital spaces had created opportunities for increased participation, particularly among young people, women and marginalised communities that previously faced barriers in accessing traditional platforms.

However, she warned that digital transformation had also created new challenges, with journalists, activists and citizens operating within an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment.

She said the two reports launched by MISA Zambia were aimed at documenting emerging trends, identifying challenges and providing recommendations to strengthen digital rights protection and improve public service broadcasting.

Mwanza highlighted concerns around digital inclusion, noting that high data costs and limited rural infrastructure continued to prevent some communities from fully benefiting from digital opportunities.

She said protecting digital rights required commitment from Government institutions, regulators, civil society organisations, media organisations and citizens.

Mwanza stressed that cyber legislation and national security measures should not undermine privacy rights, freedom of expression and open public discourse.

“Protecting digital rights is an intentional multi-stakeholder commitment. It demands that regulatory bodies operate independently and transparently and that no citizen is left behind,” she said.

She said the Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard should be viewed as a constructive tool for strengthening public broadcasting institutions, promoting operational independence and rebuilding public trust.

Mwanza encouraged stakeholders to engage with the findings and recommendations of the reports, particularly in strengthening election coverage and ensuring citizens have access to accurate and timely information.

She also commended the researchers, consultants and partners involved in producing the reports, saying their work contributed to advancing media freedom, professionalism and democratic governance in Zambia.