President Hakainde Hichilema has justified Zambia's contentious cybercrime legislation.
The Cyber Security Act and Cyber Crimes Act both went into force in 2025, prompting complaints from government opponents that the legislation were designed to stifle dissent and expand surveillance on civilians.
However, speaking to Parliament ahead of this weekend, the president stated that certain people were abusing these platforms by propagating fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
Hichilema said social media was increasingly being used to commit cybercrime and harass citizens.
These flaws, he claimed, undermined the benefits of social media, which he admitted had generated enormous prospects for innovation, entrepreneurship, self-expression, and information exchange.
“Social media has opened new doors for our citizens, particularly young people, to innovate, conduct business and share ideas,” Hichilema said in his address.
The president said in response to the above mentioned challenges, the government was reforming the legal framework to strengthen protections against harmful online behaviour and cyber-crime, while safeguarding fundamental freedoms.
“We are reforming our laws to protect the public from abuse in the digital space, but we also call upon citizens to ensure that digital platforms are used responsibly and productively,” he said.
Hichilema commended Zambia’s youth for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit online.
“The government remains inspired by the positive use of digital platforms to drive innovation and economic growth,” the president said.
Share
