On 28 March 2025, the Zambian Parliament passed the Cyber Security Bill, 2024, and the Cyber Crimes Bill, 2024, during the Third Reading, despite strong opposition from civil society organizations (CSOs). These bills are now awaiting the President’s signature to become law. The Ministry of Technology and Science reported that extensive consultations with stakeholders, including CSOs, the private sector, and international partners, were conducted after the Bills were initially deferred in December 2024.
Once signed into law by President Hakainde Hichilema, the bills are expected to enhance digital security, protect national infrastructure, and address emerging cyber threats. However, several CSOs, including MISA Zambia, BBC Media Action, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Chapter One Foundation, Bloggers of Zambia, and the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), expressed concerns over certain provisions.
These civil society actors have highlighted the following criticisms: many of their recommended amendments to protect human rights were ignored; the bills contain unclear language that can lead to broad interpretations, potentially allowing for arbitrary implementation; they grant the government extensive surveillance capabilities, which could infringe on citizens’ privacy rights; they do not sufficiently safeguard against government overreach, which could stifle media freedom, silence dissent, and limit free speech online; and the provisions related to data protection are seen as insufficient, leaving citizens vulnerable to privacy violations. As the Bills await the President’s signature, CSOs argue that they still lack critical safeguards against abuse.