Politics

Like Uganda, Zambia is tinkering with new laws to regulate social media use

Zambia is now the latest African country that is mulling a social media shutdown due to such problems like porn and cybercrime

Published

5 years ago

July 7, 2018

Africa News Watch

Zambia is now the latest African country that is mulling a social media shutdown due to such problems like porn and cybercrime.

According to the Monitor, Zambia’s Communication Minister, Brian Mushimba, told parliament that some Zambians were using social media to send pornographic images, spread hate speech and to commit identity theft.

“Prior to the proliferation of social media, people in Zambia behaved and communicated within acceptable and expected cultural boundaries,” he said. “Incidents of impersonations, people being insulted, abused, falsely accused or defrauded on social media platforms have reached an alarming state.”

He said that these new laws that are yet to be drafted will introduce penalties for those abusing social media although he didn’t clarify on how the laws would be enforced.

Also, according to Lusaka Times, Zambia will also not introduce tax on social media, as what we have seen in Uganda. The minister said they will not copy Uganda but they will work in conjunction with the Zambia Information and Communication Authority (ZICTA) and will continue sensitizing the productive usage of the platform.

A growing number of African countries want the social media space checked.

Uganda introduced a social media tax which was not well received and also blocked VPNs to discourage tax dodgers. Tanzania introduced a new law that required bloggers to pay licences. Kenya also passed a new law that placed stiff penalties on cyber related crimes where some sections were suspended thanks to efforts by stakeholders.

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Politics

Zambian govt says no plan to remove Christian nation clause from constitution

Published

17 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango has maintained that the ruling party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), has adopted an inclusive approach to constitutional amendments.

Nalmango made the reiteration while answering questions before the National Assembly following concerns raised by Bwacha Member of Parliament, Sydney Mushanga, who questioned the government’s alleged intentions to tamper with constitutional provisions without engaging stakeholders.

Vice President Nalumango emphasised that the government’s guiding principles were firmly rooted in Christian values, and clarified that the government had no plans to remove clauses like the Christian nation clause.

She declared, “The government espouses Christian values, and we want to make that clear,” calling for an end to discussions based on false claims. “Christianity serves as the foundation for our values”.

She also confirmed her commitment to consultative decision-making. She stated, “Government has made it clear that it will first amend non-contentious clauses of the constitution in consultation with the stakeholders.”

In response to mounting pressures within the country following years as one- and later two-party states, the Zambian constitution was changed in 1991 to allow the reintroduction of a multiparty system.

Under the terms of the constitution, the president appoints the vice president, the chief justice, and members of the High Court on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission.

Politics

Uganda begins withdrawal of troops from eastern Congo DR

Published

18 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Uganda has started the withdrawal of 1,000 troops deployed for a regional peacekeeping mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to a statement released by the military, Uganda’s decision not to extend the mandate of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) past December 8 prompted the withdrawal.

At its meetings in Arusha, Tanzania, the CDF affirmed the DRC’s decision and advised the defence ministers of the East African Community (EAC) to formally terminate the EACRF’s operations in the country’s vast eastern region, effective December 8.

UPDF’s contingent spokesperson, Capt. Ahmad Hassan Kato, “UPDF will ensure to expedite the pull-out of its forces and equipment within the approved timelines as enshrined in the extraordinary meeting of EAC CDFS (Chief of Defense Forces) held on December 6.”

“The Uganda contingent urges all armed groups (in the Eastern DRC) to facilitate the withdrawal of the UPDF troops by observing a total ceasefire to allow the forces to exit the mission area safely,” said Kato.

Aside from EAC forces, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as (MONUSCO), has around 12,400 troops in the Congo, with a cost of over $1 billion per year.

Lately, there has been an upsurge in violence in Congo, DR. High rates of civilian casualties and displacement have been caused by hostilities with neighbouring countries, political violence, extrajudicial killings by security forces, and conflicts between militant groups over territory and natural resources.

According to the United Nations, more than 100 armed groups and local militias operate in the eastern DRC.