MISA cautions govt over online regulations

THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is calling on government to be mindful of the right to freedom of expression and access to information as it enacts laws to address new technological developments.

The institute has made the request based on government’s intentions to enact laws that would regulate the online space.

MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale noted that while it appreciated the good intentions of the laws among them protecting children and citizens from various crimes, the laws must not derogate from freedom of expression, access to information of the citizens including the media and their right of assembly online through livestreaming or creation and use of groups.

She said in a statement that MISA Zambia was also concerned with the speed at which new Bills were being enacted at the expense of progressive pending Bills like the Access to Information (ATI) Bill which had been lying dormant since 2002.

Ms Mwale appealed to government to mind the right to of freedom of expression, access to information and citizen participation in democracy.

“We wish to request the government to avail the cyber laws and the proposed ATI Bill for the public to scrutinize them and make an input,” Ms. Mwale said.

MISA Zambia has also commended government efforts to establish Village TVs and for condemning the violence that occurred in Chilanga campaigns for the June 5 parliamentary byelection.

“This direction is highly commendable and it is our hope that government will always remind itself and the citizens that democracy is about freedom of choice, which can only occur if citizens have unrestricted access to information, can practice their right to freedom of expression; without which democracy and good governance is compromised; ultimately leading to underdevelopment and poverty.”