BY CYNTHIA NKHATA
Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enerst Chanda says the consideration for the government to regulate online broadcasting (podcast) is dictatorial.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Chanda said it is a pure dictatorship and this can only be occasioned by the government that is preparing to control the online space.
He said the UPND government survived on online media after the Patriotic front stopped them from mobilizing physically across the country.
Mr Chanda said is it undemocratic for the UPND administration to regulate the online broadcasting (podcasts).
"I wonder why the UPND government wants to regulate the online broadcasting (Podcast) yet they survived on them when they were in opposition and it worked out," He said.
Mr Chanda has charged that the consideration of regulating the online space broadcasting (podcasts) is infringement of the digital rights.
He stated that there is nothing good about IBA regulating online broadcasting (podcasts) saying that IBA is meant for traditional media and not the digital space.
Mr Chanda added that the UPND administration should let the online space free for everyone to express themselves.
Meanwhile BBC 2022 Komla Dumor award winner Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya said the need for government to regulate online media and especially podcasts may be new, but to a large extent brings back memories of how successive Zambian government always find innovative ways to shut down the people's voices.
"We all know that how we share and get information has changed alot. This change happened mainly because of two types of media: old media and new media," He said.
Mr Buyoya said new media is easy for everyone to use around the world to find information and entertainment, which is a big step forward for freedom of expression and getting information.
"The recent intention by government to meddle in the business of private citizens' social media postings sits at the very core of suppressing freedom of expression. In 2021, President Edgar Lungu signed the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill into law. This law was widely criticized because it meant sensoring the media and online space and ultimately stifling the freedoms of the people," He said.
He added that Online discussions reflect what's already happening in society.
He said If government enforces the rule of law more, people will have more freedom online and we won't need as much regulation.
And UPND ICT Party Consultant Roy Makayi said the proposal by the government through IBA to commence online broadcasting (podcasts) regulation makes a sad reading technically and politically to the regime.
"International bodies such as FCC that guides and regulates the use of electronic gadgets ranging from smartphones, computers and anything electronic their guidance is on safety of the gadget and its user. The applications to which these gadgets get connected are free world platforms that no country in this world has authority or say over them.The digital world has revolved around the world of computers and Smart things non of them has any say about Internet or the use of it because to begin with Internet doesn't exist to one person or is not owned by any person on Earth so its difficult for any country to impose any law of rules," He explained.
Mr Makayi who is also the owner of the CIC press team aligned to the ruling government said the government through the ministry of information and media and IBA should find a way on how to use the online platform to their advantage and not try what they can't manage.
On the 7th of March 2024 Minister of information and media Cornelius Mweetwa through the Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana announced that the government is revising the independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act to provide regulation of online broadcasting (Podcasts) to achieve sanity in the sector.
Mr Mweetwa said the reforming of the legislation is also aimed at seeing to it that the Zambia national broadcasting (ZNBC) operates as a truly public service broadcaster.
Mr Mweetwa said the New Dawn administration has noted proliferation of online broadcasting for some time which is seemingly unregulated.
He said yesterday during presentation of the IBA and ZNBC draft layman’s bills by technical working groups.
Mr Mweetwa, who is chief government spokesperson, said this through Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana.
“There is an issue to do with online broadcasting, we have seen a proliferation of what they call podcasts. So, people are broadcasting online, and there seems to be no regulation around that area.
“That is why it is highly commendable that even that was taken into consideration during this process [drafts bill],” he said.
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