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The government has raised concern over growing online risks affecting children, including cyberbullying, online predators, harmful content, misinformation and a global surge in child sexual exploitation — which has increased by 400 percent over the past decade.
Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, said real-life accounts from affected children highlight the urgency for action, especially as statistics show that 1 in 12 children has experienced online sexual exploitation.
He said this during the launch of the National Child Online Protection Strategy (2025–2029), developed in collaboration with ZICTA, UNICEF, the Human Rights Commission, the National Prosecution Authority, the Zambia Police Service Victim Support Unit, the Judiciary, the Zambia Law Development Commission, Lifeline/Childline Zambia and other cooperating partners in Lusaka.
Habeenzu underscored the need for strengthened and coordinated national systems involving government, the private sector, justice institutions and civil society. He further noted the importance of addressing low digital literacy levels among children, particularly in rural areas.
“Digital skills are essential for future employment, with 70 percent of future jobs requiring digital competencies, strengthening national systems for child online protection through enhanced coordination and preventing online abuse and promoting responsible digital behaviour,” Habeenzu noted.
He added that digital technology had evolved from a luxury to a necessity, shaping how children learn, communicate and innovate. With 38 percent of Zambian internet users below 18, he said the online world presented both opportunities and risks.
Habeenzu stressed the need to empower children through safe digital skills development and inclusive online environments, reaffirming Zambia’s goal to reduce online child abuse cases by at least 50 percent by 2029, backed by strong enforcement, education and public awareness.
UNICEF Country Representative, Dr. Saja Farooq Abdullah, congratulated the Ministry for its leadership, especially following World Children’s Day commemorations on 20 November.
She said UNICEF was honoured to support the development of the strategy, which reflects Zambia’s commitment to protecting every child from online violence and abuse.
“Popular platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Google, gaming platforms) expose children to cyberbullying, harmful content, sexual exploitation and other risks,” Abdullah highlighted.
She said protection from online harm was not merely a technology concern but a child rights imperative, stressing that every child deserved safety both online and offline.
Abdullah said UNICEF envisioned a Zambia where every child could access the internet safely, learn, connect and thrive without fear of exploitation, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting this national agenda.
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