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A coalition of internet rights and civil society organisations has urged the Zambian government to protect digital rights and ensure unrestricted access to the internet ahead of the August 13 general election.
The Net Rights Coalition, a network of organisations working to defend internet freedom and digital rights, said it was concerned about recent arrests, detention and summoning of journalists under Zambia’s Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025.
The coalition said the developments, coupled with a broader decline in civic freedoms, were creating a chilling environment for journalists and other media practitioners ahead of the elections.
“The arrest, detention and summoning of members of the fourth estate signal a chilling environment for the media ahead of the general elections on August 13, 2026, highlighting the growing need to ensure that cyber legislation strikes an appropriate balance between protecting legitimate privacy interests and preserving the public’s right to information, particularly during election periods,” the groups said in a statement on Saturday.
The concerns come as legal and civil society organisations have challenged provisions of Zambia’s Cyber Security Act No. 3 of 2025 and Cyber Crimes Act, arguing that measures relating to surveillance and interception of communications could have implications for freedom of expression, investigative journalism and civic participation.
The coalition called for the cyber laws to be implemented transparently and proportionately.
It also recalled Zambia’s internet shutdown in August 2021, which coincided with the country’s presidential election and affected access to social media platforms.
The groups said unrestricted access to information and opportunities for freedom of expression, assembly and association were essential to an inclusive and transparent electoral process.
“The internet and social media provide forums for communication, public debate, access to election-related information and holding governments accountable,” they said.
The coalition said digital platforms also enable journalists, human rights defenders and election observers to report on electoral developments more effectively.
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It urged the government to uphold Article 19 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which provides for conditions including security, access to information, non-interference and freedom of movement in relation to electoral observer missions.
The organisations also cited Principle 38(2) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which states that governments should not engage in or condone disruption of internet access or other digital technologies.
They further referred to ACHPR Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa, which calls on states to ensure unrestricted and uninterrupted internet access before, during and after elections.
The coalition called on public institutions to create an enabling environment for the media to operate freely and disseminate election-related information.
It also urged authorities to maintain open access to the internet, social media and other communication platforms before, during and after the election.
The groups further called for amendments to legislation that they said could impede fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, privacy, access to information and media freedom.
Organisations supporting the statement include Accountability Lab Nigeria, Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs Media, African Internet Rights Alliance, Ambassadors Charity Trust-Malawi, Avocats Sans Frontières France, Bloggers of Zambia, Centre for Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Governance in Africa, Community Podium-Zimbabwe, Common Cause Zambia, Community Initiative for Social Empowerment-Malawi, Digicivic Initiative, Digital Action, Digital Initiative for Innovation and Development, HakiDigital Initiative, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative, Zambia Free Press Initiative and Zambian Cyber Security Initiative, among others.
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