Zambia's ruling party has slammed the country's telecoms regulator for failing to prevent social media attacks against the president and citizens.

The United Party for National Development (UPND)'s unprecedented criticism of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has renewed "concern that President Hakainde Hichilema's government is increasingly becoming dictatorial."

This criticism against ZICTA is alleged to have prompted the resignation of the regulator's director general, Choolwe Andrew Nalubamba, this past weekend.

The ruling party has not spared the Zambia Police Service from criticism for the alleged abuse of Hichilema and other civilians online.

“We cannot and will not tolerate the continued embarrassment of our president as if we are a nation without laws and institutions,” said Cheelo Katambo, UPND deputy media director.

“It is highly disappointing that such baseless accusations and insults against the head of state and indeed ordinary citizens have been allowed to flourish under the watch of both ZICTA and the Zambia Police.”

Katambo said the two institutions had a duty to protect the integrity of the head of state and to ensure that “those responsible for spreading malicious lies” were brought to book.

“However, their continued inaction raises serious questions about their commitment to enforcing the law and maintaining order in the country,” Katambo said.

He said if ZICTA and the Zambia police service did not take action against attacks on the president on the cyberspace, the ruling party would “have no choice but to act.”

“We will explore every possible legal avenue to hold both ZICTA and the police accountable for their failure to protect the dignity of our head of state and party,” Katambo said.