FORMER Justice minister Princess Kasune says the cyber law is not for politicians but is meant to create an environment in which people can express themselves within the confines of the law.

During a rally on Friday, NRPUP presidential running mate Makebi Zulu said if elected, his government would repeal the Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security Act, as it had gagged Zambians from expressing their views.

In an interview, Saturday, Kasune argued that what the opposition was promising to bring back was recklessness.

She said the question to the Zambian people was whether that was the kind of governance and environment they would want to live in.

“That it is not freedom when it is being abused, it is recklessness. And that is what they are promising you to bring back. And the question to the Zambian people is, is that the kind of governance, that kind of environment you would want to be in? You clearly have stated, and we have all seen it, where people are abusing social media by insulting not just people in power, but each other. I do not think that is the government we want. I do not think that is the Zambia we want. So that is why we have been on record reminding Zambians, explaining ourselves that the cyber law is not for politicians. It is actually to create an environment that people can express themselves within the confines of the law and within what is palatable and right for society. It is not okay under the UPND government for anyone to take the right of another person, to insult another without being taken to task. And that is the Zambia the majority want,” she said.

She added that the opposition wanted to take the country back to a time where people could insult freely.

“Well, I think at the end of the day it is for the Zambian people to ask themselves, how was freedom expressed before we came into power as UPND? And this is where, for me, I always ask you as the media, where were you when PF and the cadres were against free expression, not only of you the media practitioners, but also the Zambian people? I think people should not misunderstand the cyber law. The cyber law is meant to protect, actually, in many ways, you the users, you the people of Zambia, so that no one speaks ill of you and goes scot-free. One of the things we have to remember is that when the elections were happening in 2016 and 2021, the social media space was not as it is today. Every country that is serious about protecting its people has to put in measures. This is not just happening in Zambia, it is happening in the UK, where they even have stronger laws than we have. Why? Because you have to remember where your rights and someone else’s rights begin,” said Kasune.

“You have seen the issue of insults on social media, not only for people in bigger positions but also people who are randomly picked on and they go scot-free. Is that the world we want? So, as the UPND government, as we come back on August 13, we want to continue to assure the Zambian people that every Zambian deserves the right to be heard, the right to be free, in a responsible manner that does not take away another’s freedom. And that is what we are committed to. So if they are committing to take us back where people can insult freely and assassinate character without any recourse, that is not the Zambia we want, and I do not think that is the Zambia people want. So it comes with a huge responsibility, and that is why I am confident that President Hakainde Hichilema and we, the entire UPND government, are coming back because we have to create order, which is very difficult to create in a world of social media. You are talking of AI. It will take leaders such as Hakainde Hichilema and others who are forward-thinking to bring in laws, but also to create an environment that is conducive not only for those who are louder and can abuse social media, but also so that every Zambian is protected”.