Stakeholders have joined forces, calling for withdrawal from the National Assembly, the Cyber Security Bill, the Cyber Crimes Bill and the Anti-Terrorism Bill, to allow for broad consultation and the drafting of cyber legislation that respects democratic principles, citizen rights and protects the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs at a Press Briefing in Lusaka today, Chapter One Foundation Board Chairperson, Sarah Longwe, said the three Bills, as they have been drafted, are in fundamental ways an affront to democracy and citizen rights.
“There are selected exemplifications of the undemocratic, stifling power the Cyber Security, Cyber Crimes and Anti-Terrorism Bills seek to grant to the state,” said Ms. Longwe.
She explained that the Bills in question gives the Republican President inordinate and undemocratic power over citizens utilisation of the internet.
Ms. Longwe said the Bills create vaguely defined crimes that carry highly punitive consequences and supress freedom of expression and dissent.
She called for clear definition of terms further saying the unchecked oversight risks political interference and undermines independent governance.
Speaking during the same briefing, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President, Lungisani Zulu, said rushing the process to enact the said bills will do more harm than good to Zambia.
Mr. Zulu said government should align the bills with international best practices such as the Budapest convention on cyber security.
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