Government has warned social media and Internet ‘abusers’ that it has put in place measures and installed equipment that enables the information communication technology – ICT regulator – ZICTA and law enforcement agencies like the Police to track down suspects.
However, when the Zambian Business Times – ZBT reached out to ZICTA to confirm the installation of new equipment to track down social media abuse suspects as well as set up of a joint cyber crime detection team, the ICT regulator referred all queries on this matter to the Zambia Police, who could also not confirm by press time.
In his State of the Nation – SONA address, President Edgar Lungu stated that as of 30th September 2019, Zambia had an estimated 9.1 million active internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 52.2 percent. This is above the African continental average of 35.9 percent.
The Republican president noted that the digital era has rapidly changed the way business, politics, education, careers and much more are conducted hence has positively and in some way negatively impacted morality and ethics in many people.
He said others can easily access useful information that is helpful to their businesses, careers or education while some people use this technology to violate human rights and to commit crime.
The Zambian president warned against social media abuse saying culprits of these indiscretions will be tracked down and brought to book with the coordination of the information technology regulator [ZICTA] and the police.
“Formulation of stringent laws and enforcement could deter some of our people in the habit of circulating inappropropriate materials. Yet again, social media abuse is in fact getting worse by the day. Have we not seen pictures of accident victims being splashed on social media? Have we not seen pictures of human beings being stoned and burnt, lately on social media? The abuse of social media is real and the battle is far from being won, however all is being done to ensure law and order in the country” he added.
President Lungu further disclosed that a training of more Zambian police officers in cyber-crime prevention, detection and forensic investigation has been undertaken. In 2019, sensitization programmes on the appropriate use of social media were conducted in 70 secondary schools, covering 15 districts in western and copperbelt provinces.
The head of state is encouraged that these programs targeted at pupils, teachers and other members of staff and district education boards have progressed well. He said that a survey by the information technology regulator – ZICTA indicated that schools are responding positively to these interventions.
So far, a media statement has been availed to ZBT to confirm that a combined team of Zambia Police and ZICTA have managed to track down some suspects behind some fake Facebook profiles that had been created and used to spread hate speech and insult the head of state. The tracking down was also extended to what’s app group administrators were phonographic materials had been circulated with some arrests also been reported and confirmed by Police spokesperson, Esther Katongo.
