Government says it is saddened with the continued abuse of social media by sections of society describing it as appalling and undemocratic.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kampamba Mulenga says in view of this, government is planning to introduce an act to be debated in parliament which is hoped will regulate and penalize those found wanting.
Ms Kampamba who is also government spokesperson said it was sad that the gross and rampant abuse of social media has continued targeting especially those in leadership and women.
Ms Kampamba said while democracy and freedom of expression has to be upheld, some individuals and groups have made it a point to use social media thinking it will get them to power.
The minister who is Kalulushi Member of Parliament said ZICTA through The ministry of transport and communication is working round the clock on how best to reverse the trend.
Ms Kampamba said it was time social media was used for educating and promoting morals that will improve the country’s development and image. He said it is not the wish of government to stifle freedom of expression and the media but Zambians should be responsible in the manner they handle social media.
Meanwhile Ms Kampamba says PF members of parliament are pleased and thanked President Edgar Lungu for having spared time to tour the province.
Speaking on behalf of other PF members of parliament based on the Copperbelt, Ms Kampamba said the visit of the president has re-energized them as MPs and demonstrated the president’s commitment to address problems affecting the region.
The parliamentarian said in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe that there is need for Zambians to allow the president to enjoy his presidency as the undertakings he was carrying out were important to the country.
Ms Kampamba described as surprising at the continued attacks on the head of state by the opposition who always are looking faults in him.
It is not the wish of government to stifle freedom of expression and the media
Too late for that.
Need for Zambians to allow the president to enjoy his presidency
He is not there to enjoy, he is there to work hard and develop.
This woman is a hole.
Well, madame, that’s what democracy means. The internet has given the government back to the people where it belongs. And the people should’ve a say in how the country is being run, because it’s their country, and the politicians work for them. The politicians work for us. We hire them and fire them if they’re not doing their jobs. So you can’t regulate how we talk to the people who are working for us. They’re accountable to us, believe it or not. We even pay them. Yes we do. If they don’t like how we talk to them, they can quit or resign any time. Regulating our freedom of speech is dictatorship. And we the people will not tolerate that. If you shut down Lusaka Times, the whole world will accuse you of clamping down on free speech, which will force you to leave them alone. So…
(Continued)… you better get used to it, because we the people will not be silenced.
How about ukulya mwibala… is govt happy about that?
People have resorted to social media because PF controlls all the public media outlets such as ZNBC and uses it as a PF propaganda tool to the exclusion of others with divergent views. The result is what you see on social media.
Yes we are creating alternative modes of communication since we can t rely on DeadNBC
If people using the social media were saying good things about this clueless government, you could not be having this conversation. Its a clear sign that people are fed up with lack of leadership the country is reverse.
We would be having the conversation only that she would be praising us for using Social Media to praise a failed Government. She would be going like: “Government is pleased with the way Social Media is being used to help the Supreme Leader Enjoy his Presidency. To that end, ZICTA is working around the Clock to force ISPs to reduce the cost of using the Internet foer the purpose of praising our Great Leader” LOL
She looks surprised yet she knows that only praise singing media are the only platforms allowed to exist, can she explain why the post was closed and why deadnbc is so predictable, boring and only cover jonna and his thieving sycophants
Sorry minister, since you guys like to control everything and now it hurts you that you cannot control social media. It surely gives everyone a platform to express themselves and consume more content as they chose, which means more freedom of expression. It is a calamity stuffing people with lies from DeadZNBC.
The Ministry of Information should promote Media Freedom as enshrined in the Constitution, not the other way around.
These announcements are leading tomthe curtailing/ banning facebook as the state house advisors (chinese)) have imposed in their countrues so that the populace are ot aware of is happening in e diaspora.
More restrictions of freedom of expression, madam you continually express your vernments opinions so at is wrong h the expressing theirs. TheThe way you disseminate information could be perceived as an insult to pipo intelligence
You can try try to censor communication but you cannot sensor the mind!
ONLY GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE WANT TO BAN SOCIAL MEDIA. CORRUPT, DICTATORSHIP GOVERNMENTS WHO DO NOT WANT THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION !