Analysis of the ZambiaCyber Crimes Bill, 2024and Cyber Security Bill, 2024

The full analysis can be found here. Zambia has published the Cyber Security Bill, 2024 and the Cyber Crimes Bill, 2024, which would repeal theCyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021. These proposed laws’ objective of combating cyber crimes andpromoting a safe and healthy digital society is welcome, as is the need for the country to strengthen its cybersecurity posture, including through legislation.However, the current drafts of the laws not only miss the opportunity to cure some of the deficiencies in the2021 cyber crimes law but introduce several, more regressive provisions.In this Analysis of the two Bills, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa(CIPESA) and Bloggers of Zambia, on behalf of the Zambia CSO Coalition on Digital Rights point to theretrogressive and vague provisions in the two Bills, and offer recommendations that can make render theproposed laws more robustly rights-respecting and effective in combating cyber crimes. Progressive Provisions The full analysis can be found here.

LUSAKA INTERNET MEET – UP 24 REPORT

Leveraging Zambia’s digitalization agenda in the age of AI READ THE FULL REPORT HERE The 2024 Lusaka Internet Meet-Up, held on July 18 and 19 brought together various key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, digital rights advocates, technology experts, diplomats, journalists, government representatives, college and university students, lawyers, researchers and consumers to discuss the current landscape of internet governance, digital rights, and the future of online freedom in Zambia and the broader African region. The event, organized by Bloggers of Zambia aimed to foster dialogue on discussing and shaping digitalisation issues such as internet accessibility, privacy and data protection, freedom of expression, cybersecurity and the implications of emerging technologies on human rights. It also sought to strengthen collaborations among stakeholders advocating for a free, open, and inclusive internet for all. Key Highlights and Achievements: READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

The Impact of Electricity Rationing on Digital Rights in Zambia

In the age of rapid digital transformation, connectivity is more than just a convenience, it is a lifeline. But in Zambia, where electricity rationing is a daily reality, that lifeline has become a challenge. Imagine that students are preparing for an important exam, only to have the power go out, their online resources are not accessible. Small business owners have important transactions, but once electricity cuts and their chances of securing a deal are gone.  Electricity rationing is not just an inconvenience; it is a barrier to internet access. In a world where digital rights are human rights, where access to information, education and economic opportunity depends on being online, power cuts are cutting off more than electricity.  This means the hours of load-shedding is cutting off our potential, our voices and our rights. For citizens in rural areas, where access to power is already limited, the challenge is even greater. The digital divide widens with every blackout, leaving the most vulnerable further behind. In a country where the digital transformation is growing rapidly, electricity rationing threatens the gains. But it does not have to be this way. There is a need to invest in sustainable energy by prioritizing the…

2022 & 2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

Shaping the digital future during humanitarian times FIND THE FULL REPORT HERE FOREWORD Bloggers of Zambia in 2022 and 2023 pursued its vision of becoming a Centre of promoting anopen, safe, inclusive and democratic online society. In pursuit of this vision, Bloggers of Zambiaundertook institutional reforms through partnering with other local, regional and globalorganisations to take up new and existing internet freedom projects in our programming. Theorganisation was a key policy influencer in Zambia mainly through four main organisationalthematic areas that are; (i) Digital Rights, (ii) Press Freedom, (iii) Civic Tech and (iv) Media andInformation Literacy.These processes were also in line with the Government’s desire to advance thedigitalisation agenda through the roll-out of digital strategy in line with priorities as indicated inthe Eighth National Development Plan was given prime attention.During this period, key reforms included (i) Innovation, Research and Development (R&D), (ii)Information Communication Technology (ICT) and (iii) continuous learning in advancing thefrontiers in the era of technology, which will result in an efficient, safe and inclusive participationof citizens in the digital space. FIND THE FULL REPORT HERE

Bloggers of Zambia journey through the fact-checking revolution

Bloggers of Zambia’s five-month fact-checking and verification program with Code for Africa wasn’t just an experience, it was a game-changer. This collaboration empowered the organization to strengthen its fact-checking desk and equip its team with cutting-edge digital tools, fortifying their role in the sector. As part of Africa’s largest civic technology and data journalism network, Bloggers of Zambia worked in line with its thematic areas of work, which are; digital rights, press freedom, and civic tech, pushing boundaries and making a tangible impact. Partnering with colleagues across six African nations, they shared knowledge, received mentorship, and learned innovative strategies crucial to their internet-based work. The journey wasn’t without its hurdles; erratic internet connections, diverse time zones and cultural differences challenged our participation. But the team adapted, even overcoming the fast-paced nature of the program to meet all deliverables. Maya Margret Malenga, the lead Fact-Checker, described the difficulty in sourcing timely information from government institutions due to bureaucratic delays.  “Accessing essential data was often a battle against time and transparency,” she explained.  “The challenge intensified when dealing with underreported topics in rural areas, where the lack of verifiable information slowed fact-checking efforts,” Gregory Chillufya added. Meanwhile, Choombe Sylus Mantina reflected on…

Fact-check: This post offering a cure for HIV is misleading

There’s currently no cure for HIV. This post on Facebook claiming to offer a cure for HIV is false.  The post, shared by a Facebook page called ‘A complete cure for HIV/aids’ claims to offer  ‘quality services in HIV Medicine and Infectious Diseases’ through treatments and procedures that cure those affected such that one will test negative within 35 days.  “We have the medicine that is capable to reach in the t-cells and bone marrows in order to kill the virus completely with out harming uninfected cells so that you can be tested negatively again with in 35days. Our medicine you won’t find it anywhere like in the pharmacy or hospital due to many reasons So if you need more information, contact us or WhatsApp(sic),” reads part of the post.  The post also provides phone numbers for those interested in the said cure. To investigate the claim, a call was made to the number and the individual asserted that the medicine could cure AIDS. However, they did not provide any information about the properties of the said cure. Further, in one of the posts, which credits a Dr. Wilison for information about the cure, the post’s author suspiciously used the…

FALSE: The Simpsons did not predict monkeypox outbreak

The clip has been edited to create a conspiracy theory. A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) falsely claims that The Simpsons predicted a monkeypox outbreak in 2002. The clip, however, has been edited to promote this conspiracy theory, piecing together scenes from different episodes of the show, including “Labor Pains” (2013) and “Milhouse of Sand and Fog” (2005), neither of which mention monkeypox. PesaCheck used Google Lens to verify that the video is a fabricated edit and clarified that while both chickenpox and monkeypox share similar names, they are distinct diseases caused by unrelated viruses. READ MORE

FALSE: This video doesn’t show protesters in Nigeria carrying bags of rice donated by government

The video was recorded during a distribution exercise by the Aliko Dangote Foundation in Nigeria. A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) falsely claims to show protesters in Nigeria carrying bags of rice donated by the government to persuade them to go home. However, a reverse image search reveals that the video was actually recorded during a food distribution exercise by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which provided one million bags of rice to vulnerable households across Nigeria. The video has been shared out of context amidst ongoing protests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies, which have allegedly increased the cost of living. READ MORE

FALSE: This image of toilets is not part of UPND’s development projects

The image dates back to at least October 2020, before UPND took over the government. This Facebook post with an image of toilets claimed to be part of the development by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is false.  The image shows rows of toilets facing each other and the post reads: “UPND congratulations for building public toilet’s. This is the development you promised!.” The post does not indicate where the supposed toilets are, or when they were constructed.  To determine the authenticity of the post and the origin of the image, a Google reverse image search was conducted. The search shows that the image seemingly surfaced three years ago in May 2021 when it appeared on a Reddit post.  Additional reverse searches on Yandex on TinEye also found records of the image dating back to October 2020 as seen here.  None of the posts identify Zambia as the location of the toilets. Notably, at the time the UPND government, led by President Hakainde Hichilema, was still in opposition and they only assumed office in August 2021 after Hichilema won the general elections.  Further, a call was made to the Lusaka City Council (LCC) who are responsible for…

ALTERED: This video advertising a new application endorsed by artist Yo Maps is doctored

Zambian music star Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yo Maps has distanced himself and his brand from the video.  This video on Facebook purportedly of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) broadcast claiming that Zambian musician Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yo Maps has developed a new mobile application has been altered.  The video starts off with the artist speaking, then cuts to montages of the application and a couple that has benefitted from the application. The artist supposedly claims that the application was created to benefit the whole of Zambia for supporting his career.  The text in the lower-thirds reads: “Yo Maps’s New App takes Zambians by storm” and “Thousands join the fun!”. However, there are no reports of such an app. Further, upon examining the video and comparing it to an interview done by the artist in the past, it is clear that the voice had been altered to include a foreign accent.  This prompted further investigation into the video.  A reverse search of a screenshot from the video revealed that the footage of the artist was taken from an interview he had on Diamond TV on a program called Upvile Squad.  Additionally, we reached out to MacPherson…

Fact-check: Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala has not resigned

Mwala has been transferred to a new position as the Luapula Province Commanding Officer. This claim circulating on Facebook alleging that Zambian Police Commissioner Yuyi Mwala has resigned is false.  The speculations surrounding Yuyi Mwala’s resignation began circulating amid a period of significant reforms within Zambia’s police force. Notably, as a high-ranking official, Mwala’s movements are likely closely watched, making any shift in his position a topic of public interest.  In reality, the Inspector General of Police, Graphel Musamba, authorised a series of personnel changes as part of routine administrative procedures, among them Mwala’s transfer to the role of Luapula Province Commanding Officer. According to the Daily Nation Zambia, Mwala is among 48 senior police officers moved to different positions and capacities across the country.  The transfers were also reportedly a  strategic move as ‘part of a broader plan to optimise leadership and expertise within the force, ensuring that each officer is placed in a position where they can best utilise their skills for the benefit of the nation.’ To further confirm the accuracy of this information, a call was made to Rae Hamonga, the Public Relations Officer for the Zambia Police. Hamonga verified that Yuyi Mwala has indeed been…

Fact-check: This image of Sun Snacks packaging claiming it is not meant for human consumption has been doctored

The image was altered to include the words ‘for dogs’ on the packaging. This image on Facebook of a Zambian-made snack called ‘Sun Snacks’ with writing indicating it is meant for dogs was altered.   The image was shared on Facebook with an accompanying post that reads: “Let’s learn to read before buying.” Sun Snacks are produced by Sun Foods Trading, which also manufactures other types of snacks.  Therefore, a subsequent Google reverse image search to determine the authenticity of the image shows that the original photo was posted on Facebook on 5th August 2023. In the 2023 post, the author complimented the snack.  The steering wheel in the image under our scrutiny can also be seen in the original image.  Bloggers of Zambia contacted the manufacturers of Sun Snacks via phone, who clarified that the snack is indeed for human consumption and not for dogs. In addition, a personal investigation was conducted, and three packets of Sun Snacks were purchased from three different stores. The packets were carefully examined and we established that none of them had any writing indicating that they were meant for dogs. Furthermore, Bloggers of Zambia also found the original image of the product published on…

FALSE: The Expulsion of the 9 Patriotic Front MPs from Parliament was not on the Basis of their Tribe

The June 2024 expulsion was based on constitutional provisions and procedural issues following expulsion from the PF party in December 2023. The Facebook post claiming that nine Zambian members of parliament were expelled from Parliament on the basis of tribalism is false. The post which reads: “Tribalism is still working mwebantu’ is accompanied by an image of a list of the MPs who allegedly lost their seats. However, the  expulsion of nine Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Assembly on 28 June 2024 was not influenced by tribal affiliations as stated in the Facebook post. An investigation into the matter established that the MPs in question were expelled due to their failure to adhere to stipulated guidelines, not because of their tribal identities. According to the National Assembly, the ruling was based on procedural and administrative aspects. On June 28, 2024, during the consideration of a Ministerial Statement by Hon. C. Mulenga, MP, regarding a proposed USD 72 billion investment in Zambia by Viet-Zam Diversified Corporation Limited, Hon. C. Mweetwa, MP, and Minister of Information and Media, raised a Point of Order. This Point of Order was based on Article 72(2)(e) and Article 72(5) of the…

FAKE: This digital card purportedly quoting Amnesty International isn’t from Nation Africa

Both the publication and the human rights organisation have disowned the card. A digital card shared on X (formerly Twitter) purportedly from Nation Africa, claiming to quote Amnesty International about protests in Nairobi, is FAKE. Both Nation Africa and Amnesty International have disowned the card, which falsely quoted Amnesty International as saying, “Gen Z demand the right to kiss in Nairobi protests.” Nation Africa’s Managing Editor, Oliver Mathenge, confirmed the screenshot was inauthentic, and Amnesty International Kenya also disowned the card. PesaCheck reviewed Nation Africa’s and Amnesty International’s official accounts and found no such communication. READ MORE

FALSE: WHO didn’t order governments to cancel upcoming elections due to bird flu outbreak

The global health body has denounced the claims. Claims on X (formerly Twitter) that the World Health Organization (WHO) has ordered governments to cancel upcoming elections due to a bird flu outbreak are false. PesaCheck verified that an article from The People’s Voice alleging such directives was not supported by any information on WHO’s website. In a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized influenza surveillance and protection for farmers but did not mention election cancellations. WHO confirmed to PesaCheck that they have not issued any orders to suspend elections, and previous false claims by the same media outlet have also been debunked. READ MORE

FAKE: This network load shedding management schedule supposedly by Zambia’s telcos is fabricated

Despite network providers being impacted by load shedding, no management schedule has been implemented. This image on Facebook of a load-shedding management schedule for Zambia’s three mobile service providers; Airtel, Zamtel and MTN that has made rounds on social media is fake.. The schedule which bears the logos of the three telcos claims to show a schedule for when network services will be interrupted on 10 July 2024.   However, despite citizens battling with a poor network from the service providers, the schedule is fabricated.  A review of the social media handles of all three telecommunications companies revealed that no such schedule was posted. A statement by the  Global System for Mobile Communication Association of Zambia (GSMAZ) published on MTN Zambia’s Facebook page indicated that the telecommunications sector has, like most other sectors, been affected by the prolonged load shedding that the country is currently facing.  The statement also notified Zambian citizens that the network providers were working on getting solar-powered backup solutions for medium to long-term solutions given that the network towers’ backup power sources could only sustain them for four hours during load shedding.  However, the joint statement had no information about a load-shedding management schedule.  Further, Airtel Zambia flagged…

FALSE: ACC is not investigating Fashion Sakala’s source of wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has termed the information fake news This Facebook post by The candidate claiming that UPND member Moono Hamachila has reported footballer Fashion Sakala Jr. to ACC for an investigation into his source of wealth is false.  Part of the post, which is accompanied by a photo of Sakala, is a quote attributed to ACC claiming that the anti-corruption agency will investigate Sakala’s recent source of wealth.  The post then claims that the supposed investigation was as a result of Hamachila reporting Sakala to ACC.  This comes after the Saudi-based Chipolopolo winger invested  K700,000 to launch the ‘Mbenjere Fashion Sakala Football League’ in his hometown and surrounding areas in May 2024. Sakala, who scored eight goals for Kuwaya Stars FC during trials in Chipata, leading to a career spanning clubs like Spartak Moscow and KV Oostende, before Saudi Arabia, also donated 2000 bags of mealie mill to aid drought-stricken communities and 200 wheelchairs to Eastern Province, underscoring his commitment to community and philanthropy.  However, our investigation established that in spite of Sakala’s recent activities, the claim is not true.  We contacted ACC Corporate Communications Officer Mwape Bwalya who dismissed the claim noting that Hamachila did not report…

False: This image does not show how former president ECL was received in Ndola

The image was taken in Malawi during a funeral procession for the late Malawian vice president Saulos Chilima. This post on Facebook by Zambian Post with an image claiming to show huge crowds welcoming former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) in Ndola, Copperbelt is false.  The post, shared on June 16, 2024, reads: “HOW Former President ECL was received in Ndola today by residents.”  It was accompanied by a photo showing a huge crowd of people lined-up on both sides of a road.  However, a Google Reverse Search of the photo showed that the image was not taken in Zambia, Instead, the image was of a funeral motorcade in Malawi as seen here.  From the results, it is clear that the photo shared by Zambian Post was cropped at the bottom to hide the police escort vehicle and Malawian flags on the vehicle which was part of the funeral procession carrying the body of the late vice president of Malawi.The image was also shared by another Malawi-based Facebook page ‘Malawi Data’ on June 16 2024. Further, a reverse search of the billboard visible in the photo was done and the search results brought up an Instagram post by GOTv Malawi…

ALTERED: This front cover of The Star’s 5 June 2024 edition is doctored

The legitimate cover had a different headline. An image circulating on X (formerly Twitter), allegedly showing the front cover of The Star newspaper’s 5 June 2024 edition, has been found to be altered. The fake cover claims “Tanzania to legalize gay marriage” as the headline, accompanied by a picture of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. However, PesaCheck confirmed that the authentic front page had a different lead story, “Counties blow Sh146bn on pay, projects suffer,” and the genuine cover was posted on The Star’s official social media and e-paper platforms. The Star disowned the fake cover, emphasizing it should be treated as false, and a Google search found no Read More

PARTLY FALSE: This statue wasn’t built from the ruins of a Syrian artist’s house

The image is a digital photomontage created by Syrian artist Tammam Azzam in 2012. A post on Threads claiming that a replica of the Statue of Liberty was built by a Syrian artist using the ruins of his house is partly false; the image is actually a digital photomontage created by Syrian artist Tammam Azzam in 2012. A reverse image search and sources like Al Arabiya News and The Irish Sun confirm that Azzam digitally constructed the image using rubble from a destroyed building in Syria, intending it as a message of optimism amid destruction, not a political statement. The viral image shared on social media is not of an actual statue but an old Read More

ALTERED: This image of the Former Zambian President’s vehicle with a snake flag has been doctored

The original image does not contain the snake imagery.  This image shared on Facebook by a Zambian blogger purportedly showing former Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s motorcade with a flag and number plate containing snake imagery has been altered.  The presidential motorcades of all former and current presidents use an official flag which is positioned at the front of the vehicle as seen here and here.   The eagle flag on a presidential vehicle in Zambia represents the personal standard of the President of Zambia. This flag is specifically used to denote the presence of the President and is flown on vehicles within the presidential motorcade or at locations where the President is present.  However, the vehicle with snake imagery is not a true representation of Lungu’s motorcade.  Upon conducting a Google reverse image search, dozens of references to the original picture came up such as shown on The Lusaka Times and on The Patriotic Front’s Facebook page. The Patriotic Front is the former president’s political party and Zambia’s main opposition party. From the original picture, it is clear that the image under our scrutiny was manipulated and not reflective of reality.  This blog post was produced by Bloggers of Zambia, under…

FALSE: This video of a stray lion was not captured in Zambia’s Western Province in May 2024

The video has been in circulation at least since 2021 and is not of a recent incident of stray lions in Zambia. This video of a roaring lion circulating on Facebook linked to the lions reportedly on the loose in Zambia’s Western Province is not recent. Although the news of two stray lions in the province is true, as confirmed by multiple credible news sources, among them Lukulu FM Community Radio based in Western Province, the video circulating is not of one of the lions in question.  In an interview with Zambian journalist Liwena Mukeya, Moonga Phanroad, one of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) senior wardens in charge of Western Province further confirmed the development. He also noted that there are “untrue pictures of the lions in certain instances.”  We, therefore, investigated the video to determine its authenticity in relation to news regarding the stray lions.  A Google reverse search of frames showed multiple results indicating the video was published as far back as 2021.In narrowing it down, the earliest instance of the video from the search indicated was a post on Facebook on 5 May 2021. However, the post was not clear on the origin of…

FALSE: The UN General Assembly has not granted Palestine full United Nations membership

UNGA only upgraded Palestine’s rights at the world body as an Observer State. The claim that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has granted Palestine full UN membership is false. On 10 May 2024, the UNGA adopted a draft resolution recognizing Palestine as qualified to join the UN, with 143 out of 193 members in favour and nine against. However, this resolution does not grant Palestine full UN membership but instead upgrades its status at the UN as an Observer State. The resolution urges the UN Security Council to give favourable consideration to Palestine’s request for full membership, which requires a recommendation from the Security Council. The new resolution allows Palestine certain rights, such as being seated among member states in Read More…

HOAX: This WFP poverty alleviation cash initiative is a scam

The UN humanitarian organisation dismissed the link as fake. A link on WhatsApp claiming that the World Food Programme (WFP) offers cash as a poverty alleviation promotion is a hoax. The link leads to a questionnaire promising €729.44 for participation, but it is actually a phishing scam designed to access personal information. PesaCheck’s investigation confirmed the scam, noting fake testimonies and the request to share the link further on WhatsApp. Verification efforts with WFP and their social media found no legitimacy to the claim, with WFP’s head of communications in South Sudan confirming it is not legitimate read more…

FALSE: Morocco’s women’s football team has not replaced Zambia in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Zambia secured a place at the Olympics with a decisive 2-0 win against Morocco. This Facebook post by Zambia’s Petauke Member of Parliament JJ Banda claiming that Morocco’s women’s football team qualified for the Olympic games, replacing Zambia’s women’s football team, Copper Queens, is false. Despite facing the threat of disqualification from the Olympics after FIFA intervened due to money laundering accusations against Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga and three others, as well as undue influence by third parties, Zambia’s women’s team was not disqualified. On 9 April 2024, Zambia’s game against Morocco in the CAF Women’s Qualifier concluded with a 2-1 victory for Zambia, qualifying them for the Paris Olympic Games. This claim, published on April 27, 2024, likely stemmed from the FAZ’s troubles, which began when FAZ executives were arrested on April 23, 2024. The Supreme Court of Zambia then ordered FAZ to postpone the date of their Annual General Meeting (AGM) until their court cases were resolved. However, FIFA’s rules and regulations stipulate that all member associations must operate independently and not be influenced by external forces such as governments, political parties or the police.  Consequently, FAZ decided to proceed with their FIFA-sanctioned AGM…

FAKE: This memo about First National Bank (FNB) Zambia closing operations due to an unstable economic climate is fabricated

FNB Zambia has dispelled the claim. This memo shared on Facebook claiming that First National Bank (FNB) Zambia is closing operations is fake. The letter dated May 16 2024 circulated on WhatsApp on May 17 2024 and claimed that First National Bank Zambia (FNB) will be closing due to the unstable economic climate in Zambia. The purported letter reads, “Regrettably, we must announce the immediate closure of our bank, due to the continuing negative economic climate in the country.” After a thorough review of the letter, despite it having the FNB letterhead, we established that when FNB Zambia issues a memo or notice to clients, they use a special infographic similar to the screenshot shared below (see previous examples). The graphics typically do not bear any signature. A call to FNB Zambia through their customer care line,  +260 211 366 800,  further helped dispel the claim as they confirmed that FNB did not author it.  FNB Zambia also issued a press statement through the CEO Kapumpe Chola to restore public confidence in the lender. The financial institution further clarified that FNB Zambia was conducting maintenance works on two branches and had to close operations at those specific branches to allow…

Bloggers of Zambia Advocates for a Safe and Secure Internet for Women and Girls on International Women’s Day

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Bloggers of Zambiastands united with stakeholders in our commitment to promoting a safe and secure onlineenvironment for women and girls.Today, we reflect on the achievements and challenges faced by women in the digital space and wewould like to emphasize the importance of creating an inclusive online community that fostersempowerment and equality.It is our call that in an era where the internet serves as a powerful tool for communication,education, and self-expression, it is crucial to address the unique challenges that women and girlsoften encounter online. Bloggers of Zambia recognizes the significance of digital rights andadvocates for the following principles: On this International Women’s Day, let us recommit ourselves to creating a digital world whereevery woman and girl feels safe, empowered, and free to express themselves without fear.Bloggers of Zambia stand in solidarity with women everywhere and remain dedicated tochampioning the cause of a safe and secure internet for all.

CSO PARLIAMENTARIANS INTERACT

The Civil Society Coalition on the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021 held an interactive session with the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technologies. The session was held at the Bloggers of Zambia Digital Hub in Lusaka and compared notes on how the country could harness online protection laws to promote credible journalism and public uptake of information. Speaking when he rendered his opening remarks, Committee Chairperson Honourable Eng. Raphael Mabenga said it had been observed with concern that online media at times publicized information that was not factual and of a misleading nature to the citizens. Hon Mabenga, who is also Mulobezi Member of Parliament, said there is a lot of information that is published on social media but some of it may not be true yet the public will believe what they have read. “So it is important that journalists publishing information on these platforms are factual and report the truth,” Mabenga said as he encouraged training institutions to take an interest in the evolution of online protection laws for incorporation in training programmes. Bloggers of Zambia chief executive officer Richard Mulonga said the Act was an important piece of legislation but it needs…

Former Police Deputy I.G Charity Katanga Receives 3-Year Simple Prison Sentence.

Former deputy inspector general of police Charity Katanga will for the next three years be a penitentiary resident albeit pending application. Katanga has today been handed a three-year simple imprisonment jail term by the Lusaka Magistrate Court for possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime. Lusaka Chief Resident magistrate Davies Chibwili today found Katanga guilty of possession of 10 Higer buses worth K26 million suspected of being proceeds of crime. The court found that the convict failed to prove that the buses in question were bought using legitimate sources. Some family members could not hold their back tears as in Iron Lady fashion Katanga made her way out of the court towards a Kasalanga truck enroute to the correctional facility. None of the parties so far; Katanga and the State have appealed the sentence.

“Robert Chabinga: A Political Chameleon or a Stalwart of Integrity?”

Leader of the opposition in Parliament Robert Chabinga held the mother of all press briefings on Sunday, highlighting a barrage of issues including the apparent switch of allegiance from former president Edgar Lungu to the incumbent, Hakainde Hichilema. “President Hakainde Hichilema has taught me the practice of politics with integrity, focus and humility. I used my own family resources to hold an impeachment motion against Edgar Lungu until 2021. Even his own ministers and MPs wanted him gone,” Chabinga said excitedly. He reiterated that effective November 1, 2023, he had taken up the role of leader of the opposition, substituting Brian Mundubile, the PF Mporokoso MP. “And you media must know that there is no PF faction, there is only one PF led by president Miles Bwalya Sampa, Morgan Ng’ona as secretary general and I as leader of the opposition. Anyone who writes PF faction will be sued and we shall wind you up and I’m an expert in that. I am not threatening but just giving a piece of friendly advice,” Chabinga threatened, obviously recounting his role in the liquidation of the Post newspaper by the PF regime. The leader of the opposition also said Zambia currently has no…

AIRTEL ZAMBIA SLAPPED WITH A FINE BY ZICTA

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has finedAirtel for failing to adhere to quality of service parameters as outlined in the authority’s quality of service guidelines. The telecommunications company has also failed to adhere to section 67(1)(a) of the Information and Communications Technologies Act, number 15 of 2009. “This has been necessitated by the recent outages experienced on the Airtel network that affected its subscriber base. Airtel has since been directed to immediately implement an action plan aimed at resolving the recurring network outages and to strictly adhere to the implementation timelines,” reads a statement by ZICTA corporate communications manager Hanford Chaaba in Lusaka yesterday. Chaaba said the authority will continue to monitor Airtel’s performance to ensure adherence to the authority’s decision and the laws governing the sector. “ZICTA is mandated under section 6 (f) of the Information and Communications Technologies Act, number 15 of 2009 to promote the interests of consumers of electronic communication services as well as ensure that operators provide quality services to the public.

Navigating the Digital Age: The Imperative of Data Privacy and Protection

‘Privacy is not an option and it shouldn’t be the price we accept for just getting on the internet’ – Gary Kovacs.The coming of technology has made things easier in all sectors. It has made connecting with people easier whether clientele, citizens, family or friends regardless of location. Technology has made access to certain information easier with various search engines providing information from the keywords typed in.However, the other side of the coin reveals something very different and disturbing. Despite technology having various advantages, everyone also has the right to privacy and is technology really helping on this front? Or perhaps its development has created confusion in understanding privacy as a fundamental human right.In the digital age, where technology plays an integral role in our daily lives, the importance of data privacy cannot be overstated. With the increasing reliance on online platforms for communication, shopping, and social interactions, individuals are sharing more personal information than ever before. This convenience comes with a potential cost — the risk of online privacy breaches. Hence, in an era where technology is deeply integrated into our lives, prioritizing data privacy is paramount.“How do I keep my body healthy generally? I know that I am…

Recap: Highlights and Controversies of the 13th National Assembly’s Third Session

The third session of the 13th National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on Friday, December 15, 2023, will resume sitting next Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Clerk of the National Assembly Roy Ngulube this would be a legislative meeting of the House, dedicated mainly to consideration of proposed legislation. “Mr Ngulube is also encouraging citizens and various stakeholders to take interest in the proceedings and actively participate by making submissions through various committees of the House,” reads a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by National Assembly senior media liaison officer Nshamba Muzungu. The previous session, which was a budget meeting, was officially opened By President Hakainde Hichilema on September 8, 2023 and sat for 55 days. The sitting considered 164 questions, 25 ministerial statements, approved 20 bills, 16 annual reports of parastatals, 10 motions and passed the 2024 National Budget. The sitting also saw the disouted installation of a new Patriotic Front (PF) leadership in the House, the changes being: Robert Chabinga taking over as leader of the opposition, ousting the self proclaimed legally chosen one Mporokoso PF MP Brian Mundubile and PF Kantanshi MP Anthony Mumba, who took over as party Chief Whip in the House, substituting Stephen Kampyongo. The…

Bloggers of Zambia calls for Safer Internet practices

As the world marks Safer Internet Day on February 6, 2024, Bloggers ofZambia would like to make a clarion call for enhanced safer Internet usage as a tool for deepeningdemocracy.Zambia joins the global community in advocating for a safer, open, resilient and inclusive onlineexperience for all citizens. This year’s theme, “Together for a Better Internet,” resonates deeplywith the commitment of the Zambian government and various stakeholders to ensure a securedigital environment for individuals, families, and businesses.The significance of Safer Internet Day in the Zambian context should not be under-estimatedbecause the digital landscape continues to play an increasingly integral role in our daily lives.Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to harness the potential of the Internet whilesafeguarding the well-being of all users. Safer Internet Day provides a platform for all citizens toreinforce our commitment to online safety and empower Zambians with the tools they needto navigate the digital world securely.To commemorate Safer Internet Day 2024, Bloggers of Zambia has organized events, including ahackathon by University students on online safety, and online creative content for education andawareness across the country. These initiatives aim to educate individuals of all ages on theimportance of online safety, responsible digital behaviour and the protection of personalinformation….

Safer Internet Day 2024: Together for a Better Internet

we renew our dedication to creating a safer, more respectful digital space for all. Join us as we explore ways to promote online safety, combat cyberbullying, and foster digital citizenship. Together, let’s build a brighter, more inclusive online future for generations to come.

STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR CHANGE: PROPOSED ELECTORAL SYSTEM FOR SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Nkana Independent Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu on November 3rd 2023 notified the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly of a motion to impeach the speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, citing several parliamentary standing order breaches. The motion which was seconded by Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya was backed and signed by 39 lawmakers mainly from the Patriotic Front (PF) and a few independent members. Before this move by Mr Mpundu, there had been public concerns from different stakeholders over the conduct of the Speakers of the National Assembly while conducting parliamentary business. Most people had cited that the speaker of the National Assembly had been partial in her conduct of parliamentary proceedings, siding with the ruling UPND Members of Parliament and making parliamentary business difficult for opposition and independent members of parliament. Looking at this background, governance expert Isaac Mwanza has called for a new system of ascending into office as the Speaker of the National Assembly. Mr Mwanza suggested that the Speaker of the National Assembly, just like Members of Parliament and the President, should be voted into office by the people. He said electing the Speaker into office will help the country…

BUDGETS AND BREAKUPS; TIGHT ECONOMY LOOSENING TIES?

MarriageWoesInZambia: Budget Breakdowns and Cholera Fallout Strain Relationships! Can Love Survive the Economic Meltdown? By Margaret Malenga In a shocking turn of events, Zambia’s struggling economy has unleashed a storm on the sacred institution of marriage, as couples find themselves grappling with the harsh realities of financial instability. The impact of this economic turmoil, coupled with the devastating effects of the recent Cholera outbreak, has left many questioning the durability of their relationships. Social media platforms have become the battleground for frustrated citizens to vent their anger over the state of affairs in the country. Surprisingly, some have voiced their nostalgia for the previous government, claiming that the United Party for National Development (UPND) has brought even worse hardships compared to the Patriotic Front (PF) administration. “For richer or poorer” seems to hold little comfort for Zambian citizens, who continue to struggle with unemployment and the rising cost of living. Despite promises of job creation by the government, many individuals lament the lack of employment opportunities. The recent hike in fuel prices has only added to the burden, with salaries remaining stagnant, leaving Zambians feeling disillusioned and hopeless. One frustrated bank teller, during a casual conversation, expressed her exasperation, saying,…

“Political Showdown: The Birth of the ‘People’s Movement’ in Zambia”

With just over two and half years to go before the next general elections in 2026, the country’s political temperature is already heating up, albeit the country having been in an election mood soon after the 2021 general elections. Political blows and jeers have been crisscrossing the ruling party and opposition camps every often, leaving the ordinary Zambian, at times, in utter quagmire. Wednesday, January 31, saw the birth of the ‘People’s Movement’, an alliance of several opposition political parties taunting a challenge to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) come August 2026 polls. Embattled Patriotic Front (PF) faction leader and former president Edgar Lungu led a coterie of cohorts featuring Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba, Saboi Imboela of the National Democratic Congress, Jackson Silavwe of the Golden Party, Chishala Kateka of the New Heritage Party and Sakwiba Sikota of the United Liberal Party. A long-winded bucket list of issues raised on the way the UPND is running the country included debt restructuring, human rights, and corruption; with Lungu himself, the country is ”worse off now” than when under his seven-year tenure between 2015 and 2021. ”So if people want me back on the ballot, who I’m I…

National Assembly committees resume

The National Assembly committee seatings have resumed after the festive season break, receiving various submissions on governance and social development issues. Among the committees sitting are; Energy and Water Development, Legal, Local Government Accounts, Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs Affairs and Cabinet Affairs. Before the committee on Energy, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) submitted a memorandum on the implications of the monthly fuel price reviews. ”Monthly fuel price reviews now heavily hinge on international oil prices and volatile kwacha-dollar exchange rates, causing fluctuations that affect our daily lives and economic activities,” reads the submission in part. ”Increased fuel costs have directly impacted transportation, raising prices for goods and services. This ripple effect affects domestic consumers and challenges Zambia’s competitiveness in the global market”. The Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia appeared before the Committee on Local Governance to make a submission on the review of the implementation of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF). The Submission was led by executive director Luchembe Chilufya who highlighted key recommendations aimed at optimizing the impact of the CDF in addressing crucial issues within communities.  ”These submissions indicate how our organization strives to make a positive impact and promote the effective implementation, accountability and…

Call for Consultancy for the development of an advocacy strategy

Bloggers of Zambia, through the support of the German Corporation programme Enabling Access to Justice, Civil Society Participation and Transparency (EnACT) is implementing a project called, Promoting Digital Rights and Democracy in Zambia (PDD-II). This project is aimed at supporting efforts on advocacy and awareness raising, with a special focus on strengthening the civil society networks and their capacity in evidence-based advocacy and monitoring of the implementation of Cyber legislation and related policies in Zambia. Objectives of the consultancy The objective of this consultancy is to, ‘Develop an advocacy strategy which will guide and inform effective policy and advocacy engagements targeted at influencing government policies, laws and regulations as well as best practices for the advancement of the digitalisation in Zambia.’ The strategy should provide a framework for strengthening the project’s advocacy interventions through the Zambia CSO Coalition on Digital Rights. In addition, the strategy is also intended to guide and promote creative and strategic alliances, collaborations, and partnerships for effective engagement and dialogue with legislators, policy, and decision-makers. Please see the detailed TOR for more information on the purpose, objectives, tasks, and deliverables, here  

Promoting human rights online through theatre for development

In the digital age, access to the internet is increasingly regarded as a fundamental human right. It plays a pivotal role in connecting individuals to information, opportunities, and global networks. However, it is essential to recognize that not everyone has equal access to the internet, and there are still many non-online communities around the world, including those in Raphael Chota Ward of Mandevu Constituency in Lusaka, Zambia.  On September 6, 2023, Bloggers of Zambia, in collaboration with Theatre for Development (TAIPA Drama Group), orchestrated an advocacy convention focused on human rights in the digital age. This convention brought together community leaders, youth-led groups, and community members of Raphael Chota Ward 25 of Mandevu Constituency. The convention featured a series of drama plays, and traditional dances which covered a wide range of topics, from cybersecurity and online privacy to combating online scams, and digital awareness. Prior to the convention, Bloggers of Zambia undertook the drama group through an orientation on the key thematic areas. TAIPA Drama Group, known for its innovative approach to advocacy through theater, performed thought-provoking dramas that addressed various online human rights issues. Their performances left a profound impact on the audience, provoking deep reflections on the importance of…

Bloggers of Zambia holds Poetry Night on Human Rights and Democracy online

Bloggers of Zambia partnered with the University of Zambia Media Student Association, and Word Smash Poetry Group in hosting the Poetry Night at the University of Zambia on the 31st of August, 2023. The Night was a way of using creative content in governance for transparency and accountability for advocacy on Internet rights. The event focused on governance topics like freedom of expression and access to information. The purpose of the event was to enhance awareness of access to information, freedom of expression, and other human/digital rights among the youth demographic, promote youth participation and inclusion in governance processes, and provide a platform for youths to network and exchange ideas on governance and human rights matters. As the sun dipped below the horizon of the campus buildings, casting a warm, amber hue across the university, students from various faculties and backgrounds began converging towards the university’s New Teaching and Learning Complex 2. There was an unmistakable buzz in the air, a palpable sense of anticipation that permeated through the gathering crowd. This wasn’t just another event; it was an opportunity to explore the depths of emotion and the complexities of the human experience through the art of poetry on freedom of…

Is media regulation in Zambia a thriller stuck between a hard place and hard rock?

On August 24, 2023, 75 participants representing diverse backgrounds, including students of media and communication studies at the University of Zambia, lecturers, lawyers, journalists, media owners, and civil society organizations, convened for a webinar titled “Media Regulation in Zambia: A Thriller Stuck Between a Hard Rock and a Hard Place.” The virtual event was organized by Bloggers of Zambia with support from the German International Cooperation in Zambia (GIZ). The webinar was reared by seasoned media regulation and journalism experts who brought to light the history, context, and current situation of media regulation in Zambia.  This critical event was a contribution to the ongoing conversation on the complexities surrounding media regulation in Zambia, as the country grapples with the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the need for responsible journalism. Media regulation in Zambia has long been a contentious issue. Balancing the freedom of the press, enshrined in the country’s constitution, with the responsibility to ensure ethical and unbiased reporting poses a significant challenge. Recent developments have raised concerns about the potential curtailment of press freedom, leading to increased scrutiny and debate.  The webinar kicked off with an opening discussion on the background, history, and context of media regulation…

Needs Assessment Report

Executive SummaryAs a precursor to strengthen the democratic foundations of freedom of speech and assembly in Zambia, funded by USAID Zambia, Bloggers of Zambia an independent, not-for-profit enterprise commissioned and undertook a needs assessment survey in four (4) provinces of Zambia namely Lusaka, Southern, Eastern and Copperbelt. The specific districts in which the study was conducted were Kafue, Lusaka, Mazubuka, Livingstone, Chipata, Petauke, Kitwe and Luanshya. The needs assessment was meant to identify and capture digital security behaviours, trends, and needs of at-risk users among the identified target groups in Lusaka, Southern, Eastern and Copperbelt provinces. This needs assessment study provides a basis for establishment and tracking of the impact of the programme areas of interventions over a period of time. The primary objective of the needs assessment was to establish benchmarks for the project at the inception of implementation to establish the conditions against which future changes can be measured.Methods: The process of identifying quantitative targets involved the use of the Zig Zag method where the result areas, outputs and activities are described. These quantitative targets were translated into questions in a questionnaire which was administered to 1200 respondents randomly sampled from the 4 provinces- Eastern, Southern, Lusaka and…

Bloggers of Zambia Celebrates Successful 2023 Lusaka Internet Meetup

PRESS STATEMENTJune 14, 2023For Immediate ReleaseLusaka, Zambia BLOGGERS OF ZAMBIA CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL 2023 LUSAKA INTERNET MEETUP LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – AS WE CELEBRATE THE 2023 LUSAKA INTERNET MEET-UP, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CLARION CALL TO ALL ZAMBIANS TO TAKE AN INTEREST AND PARTICIPATE IN DIGITALISATION PROCESSES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE CHANGING BUSINESS MODELS, SHAPING OUR PERSONAL LIVES, AND IMPACTING OUR DEMOCRACY.RAPID DIGITALISATION CONTINUES TO EXPAND, WITH THE ROLL-OUT OF PROGRAMMES SUCH AS ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES, POPULARISATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND OTHER EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING THE LOCAL INTERNET ECOSYSTEM BY MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTRIBUTING TO PROCESSES SUCH AS INTERNET LAW AND POLICY FORMULATION.IN VIEW OF THIS, BLOGGERS OF ZAMBIA BOARD, MANAGAMENT AND STAFF WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT TOWARDS THE 2023 LUSAKA INTERNET MEETUP WHICH TOOK PLACE ON JUNE 7 AND JUNE 8, 2023, AT LUSAKA’S RADISSON BLU HOTEL.THE LUSAKA INTERNET MEET-UP, WHICH IS THE THIRD EDITION, WAS HELD UNDER THE THEME, “PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE INTERNET POST-COVID-19 AND ELECTIONS IN ZAMBIA.”THE LUSAKA INTERET MEET-UP WAS LAUNCHED IN 2019 AS AN IN-COUNTRY CONFERENCE THAT CONVENES VARIOUS…

State of Internet Freedom in Zambia: From Repression & Fear to Freedom?

The Digital Rights in Zambia report highlights key developments and the state of digital rights in the country from 2021 to 2023. The country report from the time we launched the initiative in 2019. We are glad to present the 2023 report, which outlines the developments in the Zambian internet freedom space ranging from the legal and policy environment, the ICT sector and assesses the enjoyment and protection of online freedom of expression, association and assembly, including access to information, personal data protection, security and privacy matters. Further, the report also gives a brief overview of related developments in the media policy sector. The report outlines these issues by tracking key trends, analysing risk factors and noting key policy and legal developments, violations, arrests and other related activities.

The Lusaka Internet Meet-Up 2023

A conference about the Internet in Zambia Bloggers of Zambia is organising the third Lusaka Internet Meet-Up to be held under the theme “Promoting Sustainable Internet Post-COVID-19 and Elections in Zambia‘’. This is a multi-stakeholder event that convenes stakeholders who work within the area of digitalisation, digital rights and Internet Governance in Zambia. The event promotes an accessible, affordable, free, open, resilient, and inclusive Internet for all in line with Zambia’s development aspirations such as Vision 2030. The Lusaka Internet Meet- Up will take place under the following sub-themes;   1. Internet Governance and Digital Rights   2.  Cybersecurity and Data Protection   3.  Press Freedom, Access to Information and Freedom of Expression   4.  Financial Technology (Fintech), Innovation and Entrepreneurship   #OpenSpaceZM   To apply: Use this link: THE LUSAKA INTERNET MEET-UP  

Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on the Zambia Cybersecurity Act

The Zambia Cybersecurity Act: Status of Legislative Revision The Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on the Zambia Cybersecurity Act held in Lusaka on February 22, 2023 brought diverse stakeholders in the space from government; including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information and Media, Ministry of Justice, activists, academia and civil society to discuss the Cyber legislation in the country, and its impacts on digital rights. Our team lead, Mr Richard Mulonga remarked that we need to continue to sustain conversations on cyber legislation in the country. This is imperative because of the impact of cyber legislation, where the application of laws can be problematic - instead of promoting the internet to be an enabler of sustainable development. As we touch on the Cyber Legislation in the country, we must ask, how can we dialogue with all stakeholders in the country in regards to the laws in the country? - Richard Mulonga The Ministry of Science and Technology was represented by Khumbuzo Nkunika the Assistant Director - Communications and ICT Development who reiterated in his keynote presentation that government has prioritised certain policies and legislation to enhance the growth of the digital economy, as enshrined in the 8th National Development Plan. According to...

WE ARE HIRING: COMMUNICATIONS & ADVOCACY OFFICER

Number of positions available: 1 Position Location: Lusaka Working Pattern: Full Time Overview of the job Bloggers of Zambia is an independent, non-profit organisation and our thematic areas of work; Digital Rights, Press Freedom, Civic Tech and Media and Information Literacy.We are inviting applications from highly creative and talented candidates for the post of Communications and Advocacy Officer for Bloggers of Zambia (BloggersZM). Deadline: Friday, 3rd March 2023

Digital Rights School

A Digital Rights Akademie in Zambia Bloggers of Zambia (BloggersZM) is a not-for-profit organisation. Our thematic areas of work are; Digital Rights, Press Freedom, Civic Tech and Media and Information Literacy. In 2023, BloggersZM has partnered with Paradigm Initiative to launch the Digital Rights Academy. The academy is an annual digital rights innovation aimed at capacitating participants with in-depth tools and knowledge on digital rights norms and standards. In view of this, applications have opened for the inaugural school which will run from April 5 to 6, 2023. #OpenSpaceZM To apply: Use this link: Digital Rights School Call for Application Application Deadline:  24th March 2023 at 12:00am

Maseko’s murder deserves thorough, independent investigations

Spaces of Solidarity The callous murder of prominent Eswatini human rights defender Thulani Maseko has cast a dark pall on the country’s democratic prospects and is a scar on the conscience of the Kingdom’s leadership. Maseko was reportedly shot and killed at his home in Mbabane on 21 January 2023. The motive behind his shooting is still unclear, although there is speculation that this may have been linked to his work as a human rights defender. Maseko has over the past years established himself as an illustrious campaigner for democracy in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. He was also actively involved in defending fellow human rights defenders (HRDs) across Southern Africa – having on numerous occasions travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and other countries in the region to offer solidarity to HRDs. He was a senior member of the Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland, and chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, which brought together various members that advocated for constitutional reforms in Eswatini. In his quest for democracy, Maseko spent 15 months in prison – from March 2014 to June 2015 – for criticising Eswatini’s judicial system. This led to Amnesty International declaring him a “prisoner of conscience”. Maseko’s death is a…

Panel Discussion on Leveraging Freedom of Expression to Strengthen Democracy

'Leveraging Freedom of Expression to Strengthen Democracy in Zambia', a panel discussion that was curated on January 24, 2023 supported by National Endowment for Democracy. "Freedom of expression is a requirement for a functional democracy. This activity is meant to raise awareness and also inform and educate Zambians on the provisions and legitimate limitations on the right to freedom of expression based on local and international norms and standards," highlighted the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Information and Media - Zambia, Mr. Kennedy Kalunga during his keynote speech at the Panel Discussion on Freedom of Expression in Zambia on 24th January, 2023. Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy and is guaranteed in the Zambian Constitution. Free expression is a prerequisite for democracy. We therefore hosted some experts in the space to dissect the different aspects of free expression such as legal Provisions, legitimate limitations and a panel to share their experience with leveraging free expression to strengthen democracy. Ms. Linda Kasonde, Executive Director at Chapter One Foundation delivered a keynote presentation on Legal Provisions, Legitimate Limitations and Strategies To Protect Against Excesses. Panelists were Dr Basil Hamusokwe from the University of Zambia, Adora Nyirenda from ZAMWA -...

THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN COMBATTING HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT

When people can speak out and speak for themselves, they are able to contribute directly to democracy. Therefore, all voices must be heard. When we think of freedom of expression, we should remember the old adage; my rights end where yours begin. Freedom of expression is not an absolute right. It has restrictions that are in place to protect everyone involved. Defamation, hate speech, incitement and even the spread of misinformation and disinformation are actually dangerous for a democracy. Lawful limits to freedom of expression does not include muzzling the press or censorship. #OpenSpaceZM

MEDIA INFORMATION AND LITERACY CONNECT IN NAMIBIA

Launching the Media and Information literacy Content Hub Resource Connecting people passionate about media literacy in Southern Africa! Media and Information Literacy (MIL) can be the ability to access, analyse, create and reflect on media. It is a prerequisite for citizens to claim their rights to freedom of information and expression. DW Akademie created an innovative event for stakeholders to create, share and promote MIL for understanding and using media responsibly. Bloggers of Zambia staff, O’Neil Mbofwana travelled to Windhoek to join like-minded Civil Society from across SADC from 24 to 28 October 2022 at the Habitat Training Center in Windhoek, Namibia. The MILConnect conference brought together partner organisations from southern Africa to combine efforts to promote and develop Media and Information Literacy for their countries and the MIL Hub. The MIL Content Hub is a resource pioneered by DW Akademie in partnership with seven organisations from six countries in southern Africa developing content on media information literacy. The MIL Content Hub is an open-source Media and Information Literacy (MIL) resource website that was created to assist with guided learning, teaching and access to creative content on MIL. Stakeholders use the Hub to unite, co-create, and contribute to Media and Information...

Motion Urges Government to Improve Conditions of Service for Councillors

National Assembly of Zambia Source: https://www.parliament.gov.zm

The Vice President in Parliament

  The Vice President’s question time will kickstart proceedings in the Nation Assembly of Zambia today at 09:00hrs and then ministers will consider questions for oral answer. Interestingly, Mapatizya MP, Honourable Ms Munashabantu is asking the Minister of Energy her Constituency will be connected to the national electricity grid. Do read the full order paper here and stay updated on what your area Member of Parliament is doing in National Assembly of Zambia. #OpenParlyZED

Today in Parliament of Zambia

MINISTER OF HEALTH QUESTIONED, WHILE DEBATES ON BUDGET CONTINUE Today’s order paper in the National Assembly of Zambia 6 October, 2022 at 14:30hrs.

Forum on Internet Freedom Africa in Lusaka 2022

We commemorated International Day for Universal Access to Information in style at with a panel of comrades from around the continent taking a journey and sharing experiences with conversations on unlocking and building resilient access to information legislation in the digital age from respective countries and the world.

Zambia’s US$1.3 Billion Extended Credit Facility Program

On August 31 2022, the International Monetary Fund’s Board of Executive Directors approved a 38-month arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility. The 38-month arrangement is to help restore macroeconomic stability and foster higher, more resilient and inclusive growth according to the IMF. Read the conditionality for Zambia’s US$1.3 Billion Extended Credit Facility programme and download the report here. IMF Report on Zambia Extended Credit Facility #OpenParlyZED

Shaping ICT Policy Workshop with Civil Society Leadership

We hosted a workshop on Shaping ICT Policy Workshop with Civil Society Leadership. Stakeholders discussed different issues such as internet policy analysis, data protection, laws governing the space, inclusiveness and the multi-stakeholder approach to internet governance. Policy analysis is important in influencing the development of rights respecting internet policy and law. Citizens need to be protected from provisions that are undemocratic and may infringe on their rights. Activists, Civil Society and Human Rights defenders need to take keen interest in internet governance issues to help sensitise people on what rights they possess when interacting digitally and to safeguard these rights against abuse. Therefore, consented efforts are needed to influence internet law and policy positively and ensure that the internet remains resilient, transparency and accountability. The Previous government enacted a number of laws last year in 2021, notably the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act and Data Protection Act. However, most focus is on one law, leaving out important aspects such as data protection. More awareness on these laws is needed. The Bloggers of Zambia CEO emphasized that “citizens have the right to privacy as enshrined in the constitution and therefore, human rights defenders should take interest in data protection issues.”…

Meet-up for the CSO Networking Group on Cyber Legislation in Zambia

We held a civil society meet-up to network on cyber legislation in Zambia. This provided a platform to assess the implementation of cyber legislation that were enacted in 2021. Since 2017, Bloggers of Zambia has been implementing interventions to influence internet law and policy formulation and implementation in Zambia. In 2021, the government enacted the Data Protection Act, Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act and Data Protection Act. Some parts of the Cyber Security and Cybercrimes Act remain subject to litigation while the other legislation is enforceable. It is the role of civil society, media and other stakeholders to monitor the status of cyber legislation. Also, important is monitoring implementation of this legislation to offer transparency and accountability and avoid excesses by the ICT regulator and law enforcement. #OpenSpaceZM

Covid-19 Preventive Measures Partially Lifted in Zambia

The Ministry of Health in Zambia yesterday, Monday 15, August 2022 – announced the partial lifting of COVID-19 preventive measures in 22 districts that have attained vaccination coverage above 70%. Compulsory wearing of masks has been lifted in the respective areas. These 22 Districts include Chililabombwe, Shibuyunji, Kalulushi, Mufulira, Mushindamo, Kasempa, Chingola, Chifunabuli, Luanshya, Chitambo, Kapiri-Mposhi, Luangwa, Mumbwa, Serenje, Kabwe, Chibombo, Luano, Ngabwe, Chembe, Mongu, Sesheke, and Solwezi. The lifting of wearing of masks in 96 districts, including Lusaka have not yet been declared due to below 70% vaccination coverage. #OpenParlyZED #TrackCovidZM

Organizational Governance Manuals Consultancy

1.      Background Bloggers of Zambia is an independent and not-for-profit organisation. Our thematic areas of work are Internet Governance, Media Rights, Media Information Literacy and online creative content management. Since 2016, we have been implementing activities to influence internet law and policy formulation. Some of the activities we do include making submissions to parliament, trainings, advocacy campaigns, hackathons, education and awareness and Currently, Bloggers of Zambia is implementing a project called ‘Expanding the Space for Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights’. This project is an advocacy campaign strategy for engagement in promoting internet freedoms to expand on democracy in Zambia. 2.      Program Objective To expand protections and citizen awareness around digital rights, freedom of expression and access to information in Zambia. 3.       The Assignment As part of the project, ‘Expanding The Space’, Bloggers of Zambia is looking for an external consultant to develop, review and strengthen organizational governance manuals. Specifically, the consultant will; – Review and strengthen the finance and administration manual – Review and strengthen the human resources manual – Develop and validate the resource mobilization strategy Train and update Bloggers of Zambia staff, board members and volunteers in the manuals 4.      Outcomes/ results  The expected outcomes of Bloggers of Zambia are: –…

TEACHER’S RECRUITMENT EXERCISE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

  In the UPND’s inaugural budget, the government made a hefty promise to recruit 30,000 teachers in the year 2022. This exercise was given a budget of K1,994,817,600 in the 2022 national budget, and was intended to compliment the efforts towards implementing free education in the country. The recruitment exercise, though delayed, was completed last week, with the names of accepted teachers published across state newspapers and on various websites relevant to the teaching fraternity. This is a commendable move by the government, as they actually exceeded their target of 30,000 teachers, but accepted 30, 496 teachers nationwide. This move now presents opportunities and challenges for the country, the first being to address the teaching deficit that the country has faced. In a ministerial statement, Mr Siakalima said that the average teacher-pupil ratio stands at 1:58 and 1:35 for primary and secondary schools respectively. This is against the prescribed teacher-pupil ratio of 1:45 for secondary schools and 1:35 for primary schools. As a result, the recruitment of teachers presents a channel to address the high teacher-pupil ratios. The deployment of teachers, was done in such a manner that the districts with higher needs receive a higher number of recruits. This…

Confusion in Parliament, as Parliamentarian’s Debate CDF

The increase of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was met with happiness by Zambians. The increase of the CDF also came with new guidelines, which include guidelines on community based projects, youth empowerment projects, women empowerment projects, and secondary boarding schools and skill development bursaries. The allocations of the funds is that 60% goes to community based projects, 10% to youth and women’s projects, and 20% to secondary skills and bursary development. However, since the disbursement of the CDF for the first quarter, much of the funds have not been utilized, due to excessive red tape and bureaucracy. This is a cause for concern, as the primary purpose of CDF is to be used to develop communities, this cannot be achieved if the money is not used. Further to this, some Members of Parliament feel that the CDF will not be used effectively, as the guidelines are too stringent. Because of this, Member of Parliament for Chama North, Mr. Mtayachalo moved a private member’s motion to amend the CDF guidelines, to include sponsorship for higher education outside of TEVETA courses, but also to amend the bureaucracy in the CDF guidelines. However, as the Member tried to push his motion, there…

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA CAUTIONS AGAINST CORRUPTION, RESOURCE NATIONALISM AT MINING INDABA.

  President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed hope in the potential of the Zambian mining sector, despite the prevalence of continued issues in the industry. President Hichilema attended the Africa Mining Indaba, held in Cape Town, South Africa. The event attracts dignitaries and key stakeholders in the mining industry across Africa. This year, the theme for the indaba is Evolution of African Mining: Investing in the Energy Transition, ESG, and the Economies. President Hichilema gave a key note speech at the opening of the indaba where he spoke on his hopes for the mining industry in Zambia and what can be done to grow it. In his address, the president touched on many pertinent issues affecting the mining sector in Zambia today, including corruption and resource nationalism, among others. “We want to invest in job creation without resource nationalism. We want citizens to play an important role in the value chain of mining. The mining sector remains critical to the development of the African continent,” President Hichilema said. “If managed properly, mining is key to our development,” he added in his address. The President also spoke on the untapped potential of the mining sector in Africa, saying we can no longer…

Digital Hub Launch

As Zambia envisages to be a technology hub and champion a digital transformation agenda for empowerment of citizens, we wish to contribute to it with our newly launched digital hub in Lusaka, Zambia. With support from USAID Zambia through Internews Network Zambia, Fhi360 and our partners Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, we launched our digital Hub on Wednesday, 4th May 2022. Our digital hub space will be used to enhance content management, media and information literacy, digital literacy, data journalism, investigative journalism, fact-checking, verification strategies, gender sensitive reporting and safety and security of journalists. It is a space where women, girls and creators can learn how to leverage online tools for digital advocacy, artists for democracy, freedom of expression in artistic work and digital activism. The digital hub will help address the gender digital divide by providing access for all. The launch was attended by the Ministry of Media and Information Permanent Secretary, Kennedy Kalunga on behalf of the Minister of Media and Information, USAID representative – Nina Bowen, ZNBC Director General – Malolela Lusambo, Internews Zambia Chief of Party – Teldah Mawarire, Civil Society leaders, Media organization directors and personnel, students…

World Press Freedom Day 2022: Journalism Under Surveillance

Every year on May 3, the media fraternity worldwide celebrates World Press Freedom Day, which highlights the importance of a free, pluralistic and independent press. The press operates as the fourth estate, and as such, its importance in the formation and maintenance of democracy.  The watchdog role of the press allows for citizens to keep their leaders accountable, and the freedom to speak without restrictions or censorship allows for democracy to continue to grow. Freedom of expression is the engine of democracy, and as such should be guarded at all costs.  Bloggers of Zambia took part in the World Press Freedom Day commemorations which included a march past and an exhibition in Lusaka. The colourful event was attended by journalists, media houses, civil society organizations and other media practitioners, and was officiated by Minister of Information and Media, Honourable Chushi Kasanda.  In her speech at the exhibition, the Minister of Information echoed that when the media is free, then society is free.  “Government is focusing on three areas in its media development agenda; editorial independence, self-regulation and public access to information,” she added in her address.  Meanwhile, World Press Freedom Day Organising Committee chairperson, Joy Chula Sata said that lately…

Open Parly Africa Exchange

As part of our ongoing regional partnerships, Open Parliament Zambia had a working visit from their Zimbabwean counterparts, Open Parliament Zimbabwe. The visit consisted of two days of fruitful engagements, discussing pertinent topics that affect both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over the course of the two days, the teams shared knowledge, expertise and experiences on different topics. A topic of great importance between the two teams was draconian laws and how to survive their enactment. Draconian laws are laws that are unusually harsh, and ultimately infringe on the human rights. Examples of such laws are the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Amendment Bill in Zimbabwe, and the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act in Zambia.  Both these laws negatively impact the freedoms of the citizens of the two countries by infringing on freedom of assembly and expression respectively. While citizens and stakeholders are doing everything possible to prevent the Bill from being passed (or amend the Act, in the case of Zambia) it is important to remember that in repressive regimes, citizens have two options; to sit back and do nothing or to continue to fight against these repressive laws. While it may seem like citizens have no power, this is seldom…

Experiences from the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF22) Zimbabwe In Country Session

The event was aimed at capacity building of journalists and stakeholders on advocating and lobbying towards a digitally inclusive and rights respecting Zimbabwe. To achieve the aforementioned, we took part in strong conversations, shared learns from the Zambian environment and built around digital rights, inclusion in regards to internet law and policy, unmasking online media freedoms, and the implications of the Data protection Act on Digital Rights in Zimbabwe. Nkosikhona Sibanda from MISA Zimbabwe welcomed all stakeholders and participants and emphasised that the conversation on digital rights has come at an opportune time because the usage of ICT tools has increased in Africa. Nkosikhona explained that ICT tools are being used to communicate and participate in democracy globally. Mr. Sibanda reminded the guests at the forum to keep people at the centre, sustainability, solidarity and inclusion, participation and freedom of choice as they made contributions to the conversation. Thobekile Matimbe also reiterating that Paradigm Initiative envisage communities in Africa flourishing and enjoying digital rights and inclusion in discussions on digital technology and ICTs at large. Thobekile emphasized that it is important to unpack what digital rights are and what inclusion is about for fruitful engagements and results in Zimbabwe. There…

Strengthening Police-Media Relations for the safety and security of journalist in Zambia

QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM JOURNALISTS AFTER TRAINING IN PRACTICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY STRATEGIES AT LILAYI POLICE COLLEGE IN LUSAKA AND KAMFINSA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ORDER MANAGEMENT IN KITWE. The training of journalists in practical safety and security standards is an important initiative because it contributes to enhancing police-media relations and also good conduct journalism. Journalists often work in risky and unsafe environments, hence it is important to equip reporters with safety and security strategies during their journalistic work especially when covering riots, violent demonstrations, VIPs, wars and other similar assignments. The relationship between journalists and the police during their work had always been antagonistic and characterised by misunderstandings and antagonism. The training organised y Bloggers of Zambia, Zambia Police Service with support from the government of Germany has contributed major value and recognized by stakeholders as necessary to strengthening police-media relations, protecting journalistic work, protecting freedom of expression, access to information and expanding on democracy in Zambia. The training of journalists was held from June 7, 2021 to June 11, 2021 at Lilayi Police College and 15 June 2021 to 18 June 2021 at Kamfinsa School of Public Order Management in Kitwe. #OpenSpaceZM #OpenSpaceTZ Quotes

ZAMBIA’S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE FIRST QUARTER

  Minister of Finance, Dr Musokotwane has clarified that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal has not fallen through, as some people have claimed. Speaking in Parliament, the Finance Minister reiterated the importance of the IMF deal. He explained that since 2016, the country has been grappling with unsustainable debt, and as such this has been experienced through the depreciation of the Kwacha, job losses, an increase in inflation and other issues. Dr Musokotwane further explained that the country requires assistance from the IMF for two reasons; 1) their assistance will help the government broker deals on debt restructuring and 2) this will help get the country onto an IMF Program, which help the country access concessional funding that is zero rated, and can be paid back across a period of ten years. Since the elections, however, fuel prices have been somewhat unstable, fluctuating from month to month, and there still remains a looming hike in electricity tariffs. The cost of living has remained high, with the Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket standing at K9,305 for a February, 2022. This reflects an upwards adjustment of prices for basic food items. However, the economy has recorded small but positive trends in…

IMF DEAL STILL UNSETTLED – DR MUSOKOTWANE The Finance Minister reiterated the importance of the IMF deal, today in Parliament during a Ministerial Statement. He explained that since 2016, the country has been grappling with unsustainable debt, and as such this has been experienced through the depreciation of the Kwacha, job losses, an increase in inflation and other issues. Minister of Finance, Dr Musokotwane has clarified that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal has not fallen through, as some people have claimed. Dr Musokotwane further explained that the country requires assistance from the IMF for two reasons; 1) their assistance will help the government broker deals on debt restructuring and 2) this will help get the country onto an IMF Program, which help the country access concessional funding that is zero rated, and can be paid back across a period of ten years. He further added that the IMF will provide financial assistance known as the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) which will provide $1.4 Billion in financial support to the country over the next three years. The Ministry of Finance has further said that they continue to have high level meetings with the IMF to facilitate the closing of the…

DRL Workshops on ICT Policy Setting and Shaping with Parliamentarians and Civil Society Organization Leaders (CSOs)

Bloggers of Zambia in collaboration with Paradigm Initiative organized a DRL Workshop ICT Policy Setting and Shaping with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and an Advocacy Workshop for legislators and policymakers for the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Media and ICT held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka on 15 March 2022 and 16 March 2022, respectively. This workshop was necessitated so as to review the problematic laws affecting Internet Freedom in Zambia and the discussion on Pro-Rights ICT Policy at Regional and Local Levels. Furthermore, the workshop included some discussion on the Zambia Cyber Security and Cybercrimes Act 2021. The advocacy workshop with legislators and policy makers had the discussion of the Malabo Convention on the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection as a continental framework for national cyber security and Personal Data Legislation. Here are a few quotable quotes from participants at the two workshops. #OpenSpaceZm #OpenSpaceTZ

STAKEHOLDERS ROUNDTABLE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ZAMBIA

The Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Freedom of Expression was meant to build the capacity of participants and popularize what constitutes and the limitations of the right to freedom of expression based local and international instruments. Therefore, the stakeholders’ roundtable had legal experts making keynote presentation with discussants from civil society, law enforcement, media, artists, internet activists, the donor (GIZ) and other stakeholders. Mr. Richard Mulonga, CEO for Bloggers of Zambia highlighted the limitations surrounding the freedom of expression to set the context of the meeting. Mr. Mulonga stressed the point that the right to freedom of expression is human right number one because without freedom of expression no human being can demand any other right such as access to quality health, education and other services. Therefore, it is important to popularize this right of freedom of expressionbecause of some important observations we have made and that the right of the freedom of expression is not properly understood in our context. This is because sometimes we do not stay within the limits of the freedom of expression and sometimes we do not demand for the freedom of expression because we do not know what it is. The stakeholders roundtable was officiated by…

SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON MEDIA, INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

The Bloggers of Zambia team led by its founder & CEO Richard Mulonga, presented a submission to the Parliamentary Committee on Media, Information & Communication Technologies. Mr Mulonga noted that, “”If we have a media landscape that is weak, then our democracy is weak.” The submission was a review of the media space in Zambia. Please download the full submission here. The submission was made at 9:30hrs on February, 8th 2022. #OpenSpaceZM

Job Opportunity: Digital Hub Manager

Digital Hub Manager Salary: To be discussed Number of positions available: 1 Contract Duration: 1year renewable (3months probation) Position Location: Lusaka Post Type : Contract Working Pattern: Full Time Role Type:Administration / Corporate Support/ Marketing Overview of the job The post holder will manage the administrative, creative and marketing processes within the Digital Hub by overseeing the management of processes, ensuring data integrity, publicity, adhering to financial principles, policy and procedures. They will provide accurate and reliable management information to support performance measures within the Hub. Summary The purpose of this role is to lead and manage the Digital Hub service provision on behalf of Bloggers of Zambia Management in order to support them and their staff to deliver an efficient and effective initiative. In addition to providing generalist support to the Hub the post holder is responsible for managing the provision of specific administration services, scheduling of hub activities ensuring appropriate allocation of tasks and taking into consideration workload, skills and knowledge of individual team members. The post holder also undertakes a variety of specific activities and duties, for which they are held personally accountable. Responsibilities, Activities & Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities…

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Internet Surveillance in Zambia

We are hiring

Join the Bloggers of Zambia team by applying for the position of Programmes Officer.The prerequisite qualification is a Degree in Development Studies, Project Management or any other related Social Science.More details are on the poster. Apply and join the team!Deadline: Friday, 15th October 2021.

Internet Society Zambia Chapter Launch

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Media & Civil Society Meet up

A recap in pictures from the opening speech by His Worship the Mayor during the Media & Stakeholders Café on Fact-Checking, Debunking Harmful Content, Misinformation & Fake News during COVID-19 with Northwest Press Club held yesterday Monday September 27, 2021 in Solwezi. His worship, Mr. Remmy Kalepa echoed the importance of enhancing the capacity of journalists in solwezi district & young civil society organisations actors with knowledge & skills for identifying, reporting & debunking harmful content on platforms such as Facebook.

Media and Stakeholders Roundtable

To reflect on the current media environment and explore opportunities for reforming and developing the media sector in the administration.

HH Interview Part 3 (Final)

The Month of August was a busy month for the Bloggers of Zambia creative content management team. We collaborated with Peter Clottey of the Voice of America, producing video content on the Zambian 2021 election.We had the opportunity to shoot quality interviews which, included President Hakainde Hichilema. The Voice of America content is broadcast to over 500 million viewers across the world.In part three of this interview, President Hakainde Hichilema speaks about civil liberties in Zambia.Hichilema reflects on his experiences under the former administration and how important it is for the will of the people to be heard.He also says Zambia is "good example" of democratic reform for other African countries to follow. Thank you Peter Clottey for working with us. [gem_youtube video_id="gLs_zzmOepA"]

Hanging out with Pilato

VOA Interview with Father Emmanuel Chikoya

The Election Month of August was a busy month for the Bloggers of Zambia creative content management team. We collaborated with Peter Clottey of the Voice of America, producing video content on the Zambian 2021 election. We had the opportunity to shoot quality interviews which, included Father Emmanuel Chikoya of the Council of Churches in Zambia. The Voice of America content is broadcast to over 500 million viewers across the world. In this interview, Father Emmanuel Chikoya, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia discusses with Peter Clottey his concern about clashes between supporters of political parties in the run up to the 12th August general election. Thank you Peter Clottey for working with us. [gem_youtube video_id="bVnXkYhm3B4"]

VOA Interview with Andyford Banda

In the Month of August, the Bloggers of Zambia creative content management team's schedule was full. We collaborated with Peter Clottey of the Voice of America, producing video content on the Zambian 2021 election. We had the opportunity to shoot quality interviews which, included the opposition PAC president Andyford Banda. The Voice of America content is broadcast to over 500 million viewers across the world. In this interview, VOA’s Peter Clottey who was in Zambia covering the 2021 election spoke to Andyford Banda, the opposition People's Alliance for Change leader who spoke on the need for change in the country's leadership prior to the 12th August Election. Thank you Peter Clottey for working with us [gem_youtube video_id="IG9cVzhhiKM"]

DEC FREEZES VALDEN FINDLAY’S ACCOUNTS

Following an administration that was riddled with corruption, misappropriation of funds and the excessive spending of money, it seems that investigative wings are waking up in this new administration. The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has frozen the bank accounts of Valden Findlay, the controversial business man and friend of outgoing President, Edgar Lungu. Findlay has been implicated in drug trafficking schemes within Africa and within the United States, with some reports even saying that Findlay was on the FBI watch list for drug trafficking. However, despite appearing in the news often times, it appears that he has not been investigated thoroughly. Nevertheless, news coming out this week indicates that investigations are underway, implicating Findlay. It is alleged that Findlay attempted to transfer k10 million to offshore accounts before the DEC moved in. Meanwhile, the United Party for National Development (UPND) national spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said that those who embezzled public funds should expect the law to visit them. During his acceptance speech, President Hichilema indicated that he will not be vindictive as he begins his term, however, many people have understood this to mean that he will not persecute criminals. Corruption has long been a point of contention within…

ZAMBIA MAY FACE INTERNET SHUT DOWN

The #KeepItOn coalition has sent an open letter to the Zambian government with an urgent appeal to keep internet services on during the August 12 general election period. Previously, in 2016 there were unconfirmed reports that the internet been disrupted for several days, as well as in 2020. As a result, Zambia has been on the Coalition’s radar, especially in the build up to the 2021 General Election. Recently, there have been reports on social media, that the country may experience an internet shut down, or at the very least, the network will be slowed down. Meanwhile, some users have reported very slow internet speeds over the course of the past few days. The Coalition has made an urgent appeal to the government and service providers, particularly MTN, Airtel and Zamtel to ensure that the internet remains open, accessible and to ensure that the rights of citizens are upheld during the electoral period. Internet shutdowns are an infringement on the rights of citizens, as they bar the freedoms of opinion and expression. They also disrupt major emergency services, economic activities and the flow of information within the country. Additionally, internet shutdowns cause panic among citizens, which intensifies an already tense…

ECZ TO PROVIDE TACTILE BRAILLE JACKETS DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION

The forth coming general election should be an inclusive civic process for all people involved, including those living with disabilities. In 2016, the Electoral Commission of Zambia budgeted more than k79, 000,000 on assisting those living with disabilities. Further to this, an investigation done by the Disability Rights Watch revealed that the plan for the money was not fully implemented. For the 2021 general election, they have not disclosed how much they have budgeted, however. This year the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said that they have made some necessary modalities for voters with disabilities to be able to participate in the elections. They have provided voters with visual impairments tactile braille jackets so as to allow them to vote. This jacket goes over the ballot paper and allows them to read through the ballots in braille. Those who are not braille literate will have assistance from one of the electoral officers on site, according to the ECZ. People living with disabilities have the right to participate in all electoral processes, including vying for office and casting their vote. The ECZ however, have failed to give statistics for how many people living with disabilities did register to vote. This…

The Suppression of The Student Vote

Roughly two weeks to the final Election Day, the Permanent Secretary for Health announced that Universities and colleges will remain closed, for a further 21 days or until further notice. The youth vote is often considered to be one of the deciding factors in an election. Zambia is at a unique point in terms of population, majority of citizens are youths. This then translates that a very good number of people registered to vote are students. Institutes of higher education are often used as polling centers, and according to data provided by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, there are more than 34,000 people registered to vote at colleges and universities. Suffice to say, a large proportion of these voters are students. The corona virus pandemic and the various efforts made to contain it have resulted in institutes of higher education across the country being closed. Initial announcements were made early in the year, and the hopes were that by the time elections are held, colleges and universities would have learned how to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic and how to protect students. Many students registered to vote from their respective institutions, after guidance through school calendars which indicated that schools…

UPND SUSPENDED IN KANYAMA CONSTITUENCY, AS LUNGU DEPLOYS ARMY

Politically motivated violence has marked much of the campaign trials of the two biggest political parties in Zambia, and has resulted once more in both the PF and the UPND being suspended from campaigns in different locations. With a little over a week to the polls, the United Party for National Development (UPND) has been suspended from campaigns once again. Following a gruesome incident in which two Patriotic Front (PF) supporters were murdered by suspected rivals in the UPND, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has with immediate effect suspended campaigns for the UPND in Kanyama constituency. It was expected that following the measures taken by the ECZ, both party structures would take the necessary measures within their parties to help curb the vice of political violence. However, we have seen that this trend has continued across both parties, with accusations flying from both sides. As the situation continues to have the potential to be more volatile and tense as D-Day approaches, it is important that political violence is curbed effectively by all stakeholders. However, some relevant stakeholders have spoken out against the immediate action by the ECZ. Sean Tembo, aspiring presidential candidate on the Patriots for Economic Progress ticket…

WHY PERSONAL DATA SHOULD BE HANDLED RESPONSIBLY

THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY OF THE DATA PROTECTION ACT

Frank Mugala was killed by police-Corona’s Report

The Corona’s Court has found that the police killed Frank Mugala, a 13-year-old Chazanga Primary School pupil, on February 13th, 2020, during the gassing incidents that shook the country. According to the verdict delivered by magistrate Stanford Ngobola, Police were determined to kill the deceased. According to the court, the police purposefully suppressed the identification of the police officer involved in the death following their investigations, an act he described as a “blue code of silence.” The blue wall of silence, also blue code and blue shield, are terms used to denote the informal code of silence among police officers not to report on a colleague’s errors, misconducts, or crimes, including police brutality. The code and police corruption stem from the mid-to-late nineteenth century. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was known for using police officers to violently end strikes. Many members of the Ku Klux Klan were police officers who protected each other when conducting racist acts. This later gave rise to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the US, which gave new protections to the victims who had long suffered discriminatory policing. #OpenParlyZED #everyvotecounts #CageKillerCops #EndPoliceBrutality

TRACKING COVID: SUCCESSES AND FAILURES

Roughly a month after the flag off of the National Vaccination program in Zambia, the possibility of a third wave looms. The Indian variant was detected in the country on the 18th of May, due to the routine genomic sequencing that the Ministry of Health carries out. Government made a decision to suspend new vaccinations, so as to reserve the remaining doses for those who still require their second doses. “As a country, we have decided to ring fence the remaining doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for use as second dose for members of the public who have already received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Minister of Health, Dr Jonas said in a statement dated 18th May, 2021. This ring-fencing has been attributed to the Indian government prioritizing its own citizens in the vaccine roll-out, a move that was unforeseen by government. Temperatures are expected to drop in the next months, and this brings with it the fear of the advent of a third wave of the corona virus pandemic. Following the second wave, which peaked in January 2021, the government through the ministry of Health worked towards flattening the curve, and by the end of April the…

SANGWA WITHDRAWS PETITION

Renowned Lusaka lawyer, John Sangwa has filed in a notice to discontinue a petition in which he was challenging the nomination of President Edgar Lungu to contest the 2021 general elections. He has also filled a notice to discontinue a petition challenging the validity of 12 Presidential running mates.This is not the first time Sangwa has petitioned Edgar Lungu to the constitutional court over his eligibility to stand as president. In his earlier attempt, the court ruled in favor of the President stating that he is eligible to run for presidency again. However it is eyebrow rising to see the very defiant Sangwa withdraw his petition days afte

What A Loser || Kennedy Kamba ||Politician

COVID-19 measures defied as campaigns begin

As the election campaign period kicks off, there are heightened fears that the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) will be further worsened. Political parties kick off their campaigns this week, with the Patriotic Front starting first and soon to be followed by their opposition counterparts. The campaign flag-off was held at the Mulungushi Conference Centre, citing that the ruling party was avoiding large crowds to avoid becoming a super spreader event. But this was not the case, as the event attracted many supporters of the ruling party to the venue.  But as campaign trials begin across the country, the hope is that guidelines and restrictions are upheld to the highest standard. The Ministry of Health has said there is still community spread of COVID-19. This comes after the country has recorded 3% positivity, the first time since April. The active cases in the country have also more than doubled from 400 at the beginning of May to around 900 in the last week of the month. The Ministry of Health also indicated that 138,799 people were vaccinated cumulatively with the AstraZeneca and Sinopharm jabs, but data consolidation is still underway for the AstraZeneca Vaccines. The Ministry also said that…

Lungu pardons 579 inmates

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has pardoned 579 inmates from different correctional facilities countrywide in commemoration of African Freedom Day yesterday, May 25, 2021. Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Masiye Banda said the Head of State pardoned 548 males and 31 females. The pardoning of inmates would increase social distancing in correctional centres to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “To commemorate Africa Freedom Day, his Excellency, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia has exercised his prerogative of mercy by pardoning 579 inmates. Of these, 562 are ordinary inmates and 17 are inmates detained under His Excellency Pleasure (HEPS). This action by the Republican President is in accordance with article 97 of the constitution of the Republic of Zambia, which provides for presidential pardon and substitution of severe punishments imposed on convicted persons,” Banda stated. Among the pardoned, 548 are males and 31 are females. The total population of inmates in correctional centres averages 22,518. Out of 22,518, 596 are females while 21,922 are males. #OpenParlyZED #OpenSpaceZM #EverVoteCounts Source: News Diggers

Reflections from Swedish Ambassador Anna Maj Hultgard

It is crucial that the internet stays open for all to allow everyone to enjoy their rights and freedom of expression. We must also ensure that we address the gender divides on the internet for the protection of everyone online. Together we must ensure we protect and defend human and democratic rights online. Disinformation must be tackled through allowing freedom of expression online. We must also remember that Internet freedoms come with great responsibilities, people must be careful to stay away from vices such as cyberbullying, fraud and many other online wrongs. #OpenSpaceZM

Nalumango to run with HH

Long time Member of Zambia’s main opposition Party UPND, Mutale Nalumango has been unveiled as Hakainde Hichilema‘s running mate for the August 12 general elections. All eyes have been on the UPND alliance to see who they would select as running-mate following the Patriotic Front unveiling Prof. Nkandu Luo. With the fate of the elections yet to be decided on D-Day, it already seems sure-fire that Zambia will have its second female Vice president for the second time in a row after the August polls.  Madam Nalumango was earlier this year appointed as Party Vice President for the UPND. #OpenParlyZED #EveryVoteCounts

Luo as running mate: Chess or Checkers?

True to his commitment to promoting women in leadership, President Lungu has once again appointed a female running mate, after vice-president Inonge Wina stepped down. The new appointment is none other than Zambia’s first female professor, Nkandu Pheobe Luo. While it may be seen as a win for gender equality to have another female running mate, Prof. Luo’s terms of service have sparked many debates. It is necessary to examine the calibre of candidates, no matter the gender. The PF government has been characterized with corruption scandals, alleged misappropriation of funds and alleged shady dealings. One would then expect the chosen running mate, to be one who inspires confidence in the electorate, with a proven track record of good governance. Since her political debut in 1996 she has served in various portfolios, including Member of Parliament, four times a minister and once a deputy minister. Most recently, she has been Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, as well MP for Munali. Despite her wealth of political experience, the professor is now known for her tribal remarks, dictatorial approach to student matters, and head strong leadership. Over her two decades in government, Luo has made a name…

ECZ sends back Steve Nyirenda

NAREP President, Steve Nyirenda who was scheduled to file his nomination for presidency in the elections was sent back by the Electoral Commission of Zambia today afternoon. This comes after the Lusaka businessman and opposition leader failed to produce the required documents to be processed by the commission. Mr Nyirenda was scheduled to file his nomination on Tuesday 18th May 2021, but his lack of preparedness resulted in his aspiration being differed to a later day

Optimism for new women in politics

There is the temptation to believe that everyone in government is a seasoned politician. This may not always be the case, as sometimes technocrats and those with specialized knowledge take up national seats. However, some seats, such as the Presidency, may require more than just a strong vision for the country. Chishala Kateka is a new entry into the political playing field. Having left her corporate job last year, she resurrected the Heritage Party, now known as the New Heritage Party. Despite having years of banking experience under her belt, she traded in her tools to tackle the presidency and has since filed in her nomination. This is a brave move, and must be commended, as Ms Kateka is the only female presidential candidate who has stepped up to the plate. It is often said that politics is a game without morals, but Kateka’s  vision highlights morality and dignity as guiding principles for her party, and of course her vision for the nation. Much of her manifesto is focused on economic revival, with a bold promise of growing the economy to US$45 million, by 2030. Using her experience, as a banker Ms Kateka intends to unlock the economic potential of…

Nshindano unveils final 2021 voters register

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano today revealed during a press briefing held in Lusaka, Zambia that the certified 2021 Register of Voters stands at seven million, twenty three thousand four hundred and ninety nine voters, of which three million seven hundred and fifty one thousand and forty are female representing 53.4% voters and three million two hundred and seventy two thousand four hundred and fifty nine are male representing 46.6% voters. Mr. Nshindano further disclosed that the province with the highest number of registered voters is Lusaka, with 17.1%, while the province with the lowest number of registered voters is northwestern province, with 5.51% He further stated that Out of 359 appeals, 66 were sustained and 293 were denied, and further out of 8 appeals, 4 were denied and 4 were sustained. The ECZ Chief Electoral Officer further revealed that in the first provisional register, there were 18,086 duplicated registrations with the difference between the final register and the provisional register being 21,106, representing 0.3% According to the certified voter register, Voters between 24 and 34 years made the highest proportion of registered voters, at 29.6%, while the lowest proportion of voters was those aged…

What A Loser || Edith Nawakwi || Opposition Politician

What A Loser ||Mwenya Musenge ||Politician

What A Loser|| Given Lubinda || Minister of Justice

Tips For Journalists

Not In My Name

Opinions on cybercrime and cybersecurity bill 2017

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post title 8

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

post title 9

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Design is thinking made visual

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum. I get way too much happiness from good food Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. You don't need a silver fork to eat good food Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of...

Perfection is not attainable

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of letraset sheets containing lorem ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus pagemaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum. Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of...

You are what you are seen to be

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum...

This is a full width post with a preview image

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is the secret of success

Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. Koordinaten bilden die Grundlage für Einsatz des Produktes ausgerichtete Corporate Design. Reale Daten wie zum Beispiel Wetterdaten, Geografische Flächen und Höhenmeter, werden in das Design in mit einbezogen. Die neu gestaltete Marke zeichnet sich sowohl durch userorientierte Einsatz. die in Grundlage für das Einsatz von des Produktes ausgerichtete Corporate Voin Design. in Reale Daten wie zum Beispiel Wetterdaten, Geog rafische Koordi naten und Höhenmeter. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software...

Young pretty girl posing in the street

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the Internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a...

This is a standard post with a audio

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 1

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 2

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 3

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 4

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 5

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

Post title 6

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a blockquote

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a image gallery

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a youtube video

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a html5 video

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with an embedded video

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a images slider

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...

This is a standard post with a preview image

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like aldus pagemaker including versions. There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. All the lorem ipsum generators on the internet tend to repeat predefined chunks as necessary, making this the first true generator on the internet. It uses a dictionary of over 200 Latin words, combined with a handful of model sentence structures, to generate Lorem Ipsum which looks reasonable. The generated Lorem Ipsum is therefore always...