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Chapter One Foundation has joined other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in urging the UPND administration to withdraw the Cyber Security, Cyber Crimes, and Anti-Terrorism Bills currently before Parliament.
The Foundation’s Executive Director, Josiah Kalala, stated the need for broader consultation and review of the Bills to ensure they aligned with democratic values, good governance, and human rights.
In a statement issued Monday, Kalala expressed concern over the rushed legislative process, criticizing it as a continuation of undemocratic practices associated with the previous Patriotic Front (PF) administration.
“The non-inclusive approach mirrors the PF’s push for similar legislation, condemned for its lack of transparency and public participation,” Kalala said.
He argued that several provisions in the Bills fail constitutional standards and pose significant risks to fundamental human rights.
Kalala warned that enacting these laws under the guise of addressing critical security issues could set a dangerous precedent for Zambia.
“Zambia deserves better than recycled authoritarian practices disguised as progressive security reforms,” Kalala said.
He cited Article 28 of the Constitution, which provides for redress in cases of potential rights violations.
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Kalala urged Members of Parliament to write to the Speaker of the National Assembly, calling for an independent tribunal under Article 27 of the Constitution to assess the Bills’ implications.
He stressed that such an assessment was vital to ensure legislative actions uphold constitutional principles and protect hard-won freedoms.
“We call on the UPND administration to withdraw these Bills and subject them to broader consultation to safeguard democracy, good governance, and human rights,” Kalala stated.
The government recently presented the Cyber Security, Cyber Crimes, and Anti-Terrorism Bills to Parliament for enactment into law.
Meanwhile, People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) leader, Andyford Banda, has called on the United Party for National Development (UPND) government to withdraw the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill of 2024 from Parliament to allow for broader public consultation.
Banda cautioned the UPND against rushing to enact controversial laws, stating that such legislation could have unintended consequences that extended beyond the current administration.
“The UPND must draw lessons from history on the dangers of enacting laws that may appear beneficial now but could later be used against them,” he said in a statement issued on Monday in Lusaka.
He criticised the UPND for previously condemning the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act while in opposition but now using the same law to target critics.
Banda referenced his book Economic Systems: Why Zambia Can Be the Model for African Transformation, where he quoted a former opposition UPND spokesperson as declaring the repeal of the Act a top priority once in office.
Banda also echoed concerns raised by the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), describing the Penal Code Amendment as vague and susceptible to misuse.
He warned that the law’s provisions on hate speech and ethnic divisions could easily be weaponized to silence dissent or critics of tribalism and nepotism.
Under the proposed amendment, any act or publication that incites hatred, ridicule, or contempt on grounds such as race, tribe, ethnicity, religion, or place of origin would face stiff penalties.
Banda argued that this broad definition leaves room for abuse.
“If the UPND—or any future government accused of promoting tribal or ethnic interests—uses this law, it could suppress voices calling out such practices,” he said.
Banda urged the government to prioritize democratic principles and transparency, stating that any legislation prone to abuse should be subjected to extensive public and expert review.
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