By Venus N Msyani
Some Zambians are always on social media accusing president Hakainde Hichilema of incompetence. Is it social media abuse? Would strongly agree with those who argue that it is not.
On Friday 11th of March 2022, when delivering his first state of the nation address to parliament on the application of national values and principles, President Hichilema threatened that UPND administration will vigorously enforce laws on social media.
To justify his threat, the president is accusing social media of promoting hate speech, cybercrime and bullying, and circulating fake news and obscene materials. The same excuse former Patriotic Front (PF) government used to muzzle social media.
It is not clear which laws the Zambian president is referring to as his administration has not produced any cyber law yet.
Most of the time, where there is a law there is a warning. By issuing a warning it means President Hakainde is ready to enforce existing Patriotic Front (PF) crafted cyber laws.
These laws left Zambians who posted and commented on social media in a language that appeared to offend the previous government live in fear and UPND victory was a relief.
Unfortunately, not for a long time. HH warning has messed up the relief. The president has planted the seed of fear. Social media fans will no longer be able to engage on social media freely.
It is not true that Zambians are abusing social media. Hate speech, cybercrime and bullying, fake news and obscene materials are scapegoats.
Most Zambians are online 24/7 because of disappointment. UPND is failing to deliver change they prayed and voted for.
Defamation of the president law is perceived by most Zambians to undermine freedom of expression. Nevertheless, UPND has opted to keep it. Citizens are being arrested for insulting HH. It is not the change most Zambians voted for.
Selective fight against corruption is not the change most Zambians voted for. About 99% of corruption cases being delt with in the country at the moment involve the opposition. Not because the rest are not corrupt but because corruption allegations involving the new dawn administration receive no serious attention.
Civil servants continue to be harassed and attacked by cadres. It is not the change Zambians prayed and voted for.
The president is now threating to vigorously enforce condemned PF crafted cyber laws. Again, it is not the change Zambians prayed and voted for. The list is endless.
The point is that President Hakainde should let social media be. Spending 24/7 online accusing him of incompetence is not social media abuse. It is freedom of expression Zambians voted for on August 12th 2021.
The social media he is condemning now made him president. Its being abused now because he is president.
Hakanide has forgotten how he abused social media. He spread a lot of fake news that helped him get plot 1.
If it suits me then it is okay; when it benefits others, it’s all too wrong and measures must be made. This is how popularity fades in a person who was seen as a saviour. Slowly getting so detached from the masses by failing to stamach divergent views.
Sometime back I was at KKIA waiting for my flight. A gentleman and a lady came and sat next to me. The man was talking to someone on the phone. The whole discussion was about the good work the guys at Zambian Watchdog were doing to finish the Bemba party called PF. That was the first time I heard of the ZWD. I went to Google search and alas indeed this online media ” WAS DOING VERY WELL” indeed, if it hurts someone else on your behalf it’s doing great work.
OPPOSITION WILL ALWAYS BE THERE WHETHER ABOVE OR UNDERGROUND
PF IS DEVASTATED BY THEIR HUGE LOSS SO FOR SURE THEY WILL CRITISE EVERYTHING EVEN IF ITS GOOD
THATS DEMOCROCY
GET USED TO IT
MOST BLOGGERS CAN EASILY PICK OUT FAKE POSTS
THERE IS EVEN AN IMPOSTER ON HERE WHO NO ONE REALLY TAKES NOTICE OF
Things are bad in the country. Upnd supporters are failing to even have 1 square meal each day.
Pay no mind to salousi…………
He will get used of not being a beneficiary of lungus corrupt which is no more……
Especially that SoB Emmanuel Mwamba, he deserves to be locked up like Mumbai Phiri for strangling Chiluba to death. His tribally bigoted rants against HH also stink, that fu.ckin Kasai thinks Zambia only belongs to his fellow Bembastanese, foesek!
The tribalist xenophobic twit is you. What is wrong with being a Kasai? Why do you pick on this great nation to insult your fellow Zambian? Kasai is one of the great tribes of Africa. Your inferiority complex is animalistic. You wouldn’t use European tribes in a similar rant because you don’t view them as lowly as yourAfrican brothers. You are no different from the black South African xenophobes who kill fellow blacks but are scared of Europeans
GET TO WORK INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING
HAND OUTS FOR VOTES HAS GONE !!
EVERYONE IS CAPABLE OF MAKING A BUCK FOR MEAL A DAY
STOP LIVING IN LALA LAND
Its actually the 2.8 he’s referring to. He found them there. So what’s he complaining of?
There is nothing else to keep up busy…
Next thing is we shall either be intimidated or arrested for using social media to express ourselves.
Fuseke l!! It us called freedom of speech, which your president claims he supports. When you insulted and criticised pf, you didn’t complain then? My friend take your f00Iishness to your parents
At no7 Ngombala, you are a f.00l
#7 Ngombala, I’m not a fan of Emmanuel Mwamba but I will say that you are wrong to accuse him of tribalism. On the contrary you are the one who’s being tribal. Just because he’s Bemba and belongs to PF doesn’t make him anti your tribe whatever it may be. Don’t throw stones anyhow in the dark, you may hit your own relative.
Bushe Nima Bundles YANYOKO
Correction Venus. We voted for freedom of speech in 1991. Ask Garden House participants. However politicians who seem to get divorced from the citizens the moment they enter State House have always found a problem with this. Just see how they have clung on to ZNBC.
From Chiluba through Mwanawasa, Sata, Lungu, Banda and now HH freedom of speech is never embraced at State House.
Yes it shows in How they have clung on to ZNBC. And Presidential defamation laws
HH is just a conman.
Just like Chiluba, his privatisation buddy.