Cyber Crimes Bill: An effort to kill democracy

By Daily Revelation Editor

Science and Technology permanent secretary Dr Brilliant Habeenzu says he does not understand the agitation over the proposed Cyber Crimes Bill

Speaking with Daily Revelation yesterday on concerns by some stakeholders that the proposed Cyber Crimes Bill was a danger to Zambia’s democracy and freedom of expression, Dr Habenzu said democracy did not include slandering others, hence the decision by the government to strengthen Cyber laws. 

“I don’t understand those who are agitated. One thing we ought to understand is that where my rights end, that is where somebody else’s rights start. I do not have a right for instance to get a picture of you and show that you are seated on the toilet. So democracy should show that whilst we are enjoying it, we are enjoying responsibility,” Dr Habenzu said.

Clearly, the government doesn’t have good intentions over the cyber security bill they are pushing as the same is meant to shrink the democratic space in the country further.

We honestly believe that the move is being taken mainly to target critical voices, especially those in the opposition and the media whom the government deems too critical in order to curtail free speech in the country. And can the administration speak to this information that selected social media accounts of some media organisations and those they consider too critical are being targeted to limit their reach.

Babeenzu argues that one should not have the right to get the picture of another one to show like they are seated on the toilet. Of course, apart from the same depiction appearing crude, there is nothing wrong in drawing a cartoon for instance of someone to project that they are doing the same things Habeenzu is complaining about, if indeed in the author’s view the actions of the people being refer to indicate as such. In fact, most of these drawings don’t even mention the names of the people being referred to, although they make it easier for people to draw up their own narratives. This country already has sufficient laws to seek redress on if someone feels injured. Why the government would want to come up with further laws to address something that can already be adequately addressed by the laws on the statute books already, is actually not helpful in terms of improving the democratic credentials of the country.

Rather than working overtime to muzzle people’s freedoms in the country, we urge the government to self-correct by carefully reflecting on the observations raised by the independent United Nations experts who on August 29, 2024 expressed concern about multiple allegations of arbitrary arrests and detentions on charges of, inter alia, unlawful assembly, espionage, hate speech and seditious practices against opposition political party leaders and members, parliamentarians, human rights defenders and activists, as well as restrictions on gatherings, meetings, peaceful protests and rallies in Zambia.

The experts argue that since, January 2022, at least 26 such cases have been brought to the attention of the experts. Information received indicates that in some cases, arrests, intimidation and harassment stem merely from expressing diverging, and critical views whilst in others, they are intended to curtail participation in political and public life.

Everything the UPND administration is trying to achieve over this Cyber Bill is pointing towards the same downward spiral of infringements on fundamental freedoms, the UN experts warned about.