An analysis of Social Media use in The SADC region - 2014 - 2020 a video 95 that he had posted on social media. This follows the detention of the activist, who was part of a group of 17, arrested in 201596 for alleged attack of the president, on social media again and were charged in March 2016 on allegations of planning a rebellion against the government of the then-president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos. They were convicted 97 and sentenced to between two and eight years in prison, but were released 98 in June 2016 after the Supreme Court overturned their convictions. Arrest(s) after publiction: Case of Zambia A teacher was jailed and sentenced to two years imprisonment for allegedly defaming the President using his social media account 99. In April 2019, Zambian Police in conjunction with ZICTA and with the help of Chinese experts at Huawei100 managed to track administrators of a Facebook page Koswe101; four people were arrested for alleged publication of malicious articles and falsehood against the PF administration with insults directed at President Edgar Lungu.102 that had the effect of inciting people to revolt against the government in his personal capacity as an opposition MP. Also, a Zimbabwean Activist and Pastor has been arrested several times for allegedly inciting violence through Twitter and other forms of social media.104 Censorship and Intimidation against free speech on Social media There is notable trend in political parties and governments gaging members on what to say on social media, censorship by these organisations of their members on social media platforms reduces dialogue, shrinks public knowledge for everyone and prevents citizens from holding those in power to account. Some example of these gagging incidences in the region are: Censorship and intimidation against free speech on social media - Case of Zambia In February 2019, Zambia Police Command directed administrators of all existing social media groupings to delete them, warning of severe action if the directive was not adhered to.105 Arrest(s) after publition: Case of Zimbabwe In Zimbabwe a member of parliament was arrested on allegations that sometime in December 2018, he posted Twitter messages103 Home affairs Minister Mr. Kampyongo said “…government is working with Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and 95 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXCd5IHPXZU&feature=youtu.be 96 https://www.voaportugues.com/a/colocado-em-liberdade-activista-angolano-do-grupo-dos-17-acusado-de-ultraje-ao-presidente/4915182. html 97 https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/03/31/dispatches-basic-rights-still-pipe-dream-angola 98 https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/06/29/dispatches-angolan-activists-conditionally-free 99 163 “Luapula Teacher sent to Jail for two years for defaming President Lungu on Social Media”, Lusaka Times, 4 March 2019, https://bit. ly/2X7IbAC 100 https://www.wsj.com/articles/huawei-technicians-helped-african-governments-spy-on-political-opponents-11565793017 101 https://www.wsj.com/articles/huawei-technicians-helped-african-governments-spy-on-political-opponents-11565793017 102 https://www.zambianobserver.com/admins-of-koswe-page-apprehended-by-police/ 103 https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/03/mdc-mp-hwende-remanded-in-custody/ 104 https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/16/africa/zimbabwe-crackdown-protests/index.html 105 https://mwebantu.news/delete-all-police-social-media-groups-orders-ig/ 24 https://zimbabwe.misa.org