Case Summary and Outcome

On March 21, 2022, the High Court for Zambia at Lusaka issued a consent judgment, confirming that the Zambian Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) would not “do any act or make any omission outside of their legal regulatory powers and authority which may inhibit or interrupt the flow of and uninhibited access to information on all available telecommunication platforms under their control and/or regulation where the interest of consumers and their consumer and constitutional rights are threatened”. ZICTA also consented to informing the public within 36 hours of any disruptions of the reason for that interruption. 

Columbia Global Freedom of Expression notes that some of the information contained in this report was derived from secondary sources.

Facts

On August 12, 2021, Zambia held general elections. In the run-up to the election on August 12, local media reported that the incumbent president, Edgar Lungu, was planning on shutting down access to social media during voting “in an effort to maintain peace and order during the voting period”. Access to internet services was curtailed during the election.

The day after the election, Zambian non-govermental organisation, Chapter One Foundation, approached the High Court, seeking a review of the decision of the Zambian Information and Communications Technology Authority to interrupt internet access.

Decision Overview

Judge Charles Zulu signed the Court’s consent judgment. 

The Court confirmed the parties’ agreement that ZICTA would not act outside of their regulatory powers in a way that inhibited or interrupted access to information through telecommunication platforms, and if there was inhibition or interruption that ZICTA would provide an explanation within 36 hours.