Fake news, cyber bullying big headache for govt - Minister

FAKE news and cyber bullying ha\ve become a source of concern for Government, Transport and Communication Minister Mutotwa Kafwaya has said.

He was speaking at the Cyber Hygiene and ZICTA walkathon from Lusaka to Livingstone yesterday.

Mr Kafwaya said that last year alone, the Zambia Information Technology and Communication Authority (ZICTA) received 3, 075 reports regarding online abuse cases.

He said out of the cases received, 615 were on fake news, 551 cyberbullying and 126 were identity theftrelated.

Mr. Kafwaya also said 1, 150 cyberbullying cases were received through child helpline 116 managed by Lifeline Zambia.

“We are aware that demographically cyber bullying is more rampant among children and youths, and across genders, more females are statistically bullied, “he said.

And ZICTA Director Patrick Mutimushi noted that there is need to have a safe internet experience for children especially the girl-child.

Mr Mutimushi said ZICTA has introduced interventions to bridge the gender digital divide through the collaborative effort with the Ministry of Gender and UNDP under the GRZ UN programme against genderbased violence phase two.

He disclosed that the phase two include creating awareness about genderbased violence that women and girls suffer online, particularly on social media platforms.

Nine activists have on embarked on an awareness campaign from Lusaka to Livingstone aimed at encouraging responsible use of the cyber space.

Among the nine are Zambia’s first female fighter pilot Captain Thokozile Muwamba and child online ambassador Mwangala Maunga.

TAZARA workers have protested Government’s decision to allow the company to hire out its rail to private operators.

The workers feel that allowing private businesses to access Tazara rail facilities would disadvantage the Institution and make it even less profitable.

Worker's Union of Tazara ( WUTAZ) president Beldwin Mulowa said private operators using the facilities were having more haulage cargo than Tazara. Mr Mulowa said Government should instead suspend Open Access to do away with private operators accessing Tazara railway line.

“There is no way someone just accessing your line can be surpassing you in terms of haulage of cargo,” he said in an interview.

Mr Mulowa said the decision to have private operators access Tazara lines was rather rushed because of the playing field which was not levelled.

He said these private operators have literary taken away business from TAZARA making it difficult for it to operate sustainably. Mr Mulowa said

Tazara was currently facing a lot of challenges including failure to pay salaries for workers.

Mr Mulowa said the gate-takings Tazara has been getting from private operators cannot help solve the problems the company is facing.

Recently, Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu said Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority ( Tazara) should engage two or more companies to run on open access to expand revenue base.

Mr Lungu said the institution is making about $6 million per year from one operator for using Tazara railway facilities.

He said Tazara was currently charging 1 dollar per tonne for each kilometre.

"Having more operators will help the institution to generate money from private operators using the rail facilities," Mr Lungu said.

Mr Lungu said there was need for more private companies to set up wagons to operate on Tazara facilities at a fee.