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The Zambian government has invoked Section 54 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, No. 2 of 2021, to tackle online hate speech, propaganda, defamation and child abuse.
Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Technology and Science, stated that the law provided for up to five years of imprisonment for individuals convicted of such crimes.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Habeenzu urged the public to comply with the law and avoid social media posts that could result in legal consequences.
He also reminded WhatsApp group administrators that they would be held responsible for any illegal or harmful content posted in their groups.
“Citizens are urged to be wary of purveyors of fake news, misinformation and propaganda on social media platforms,” Habeenzu said, emphasizing the need for responsible use of cyberspace.
He highlighted that the government has invested heavily in cyber infrastructure to detect those spreading falsehoods and engaging in scams, warning that online wrongdoers “have no place to hide and will be smoked out of their hiding places.”
Habeenzu further noted that scammers cause emotional and physical harm to their victims and reassured the public that the government was committed to protecting citizens from such abuse.
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