The Zambian government has started drafting a media policy to regulate online media and address ‘internet abuse’ in the country in a move that threatens free speech in the country.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Bert Mushala, said the mushrooming of online media in the country has greatly contributed to ‘internet abuse’ and even ‘cybercrime’ because they are not being regulated.

Mushala said the Zambian government is not happy about ‘false stories’, including gossip about senior government officials.

He said a questionnaire about the government policy on the matter is already being distributed. He added that the media are further planned to be involved in the formulation of the controversial policy.

“The issue of online media and cybercrime has to be addressed through the new media policy. We have to address the situation,” Mushala said.

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has already blocked online media such as ‘Zambia Report’ from being accessed in the country, although they have continued publishing through facebook.

Additionally, the Zambian government has arrested and taken to court several journalists working for online media as part of a crackdown on media freedom.

In Zambia, the internet has emerged as an alternative source of news because of strict government controls on mainstream media.