By Staff Writer, Lusaka
Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) is greatly worried by recent reports attributed to the Minister of Transport and Communications, Hon. Brian Mushimba, indicating that the Zambian government would consider restricting access to some social media platforms like Facebook.
Panos Executive Director, Lilian Kiefer said her organization views this threat as an affront to the country’s democracy and development.
“It is our considered view as an organization that any restriction on social media would amount to infringement of Zambian citizens’ right to freedom of expression,” she said.
She said banning social media platforms will limit the participation
of Zambians in the global village, and curtail the growth
of ICT based businesses.
“There is no doubt that social
media platforms are an important alternative source of
information for the citizens. We have also seen many
cases where citizens have meaningfully engaged with
government through social media,”
said Mrs Kiefer.
Mrs Kiefer has since appealed to Hon. Mushimba, and the government at
large, not to take the route of banning social media sites like Facebook.
She added that the government needs to work
with other stakeholders to support Zambians to use
social media for communication that shapes the
country’s development.
Mrs Kiefer also urged the government
to find alternative ways of curbing fake news without restricting social media or infringing on citizens’ rights.
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