NATIONAL INTERNET GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS We, participants to the MISA-Zimbabwe facilitated National Internet Governance Conference held on 21 August 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe, agreed and resolved to be guided by the following principles and actions on internet governance in Zimbabwe. 1. Internet Regulation Principles That internet regulation must be guided by the following key principles: a) Protecting the democratic rights of all citizens to freedom of expression, access to information, privacy and protection of intellectual property. b) Ensuring that all Zimbabweans have unhindered access to the internet. c) Access to the internet must be affordable and predicated on net-neutrality d) Infrastructure development and competition must be friendly to the environment and predicated on environmental sustainability. e) Competition between telecommunications corporations, internet service providers, content providers and other ancillary services be fairly regulated in the interest of promoting access, diversity and affordability and respect for human rights 5. Promotion and Development of Local Content That there be active encouragement and investment in the production and development of local content that is gender sensitive and focused on our national context. 6. Copyright That copyright on the internet be a priority for policy makers and all internet stakeholders in order to protect intellectual property rights. issues to do with censorship and respect for human rights as well as further engagement with the public on issues of internet governance. 11. Internet-Based Entrepreneurship Government and stakeholders should value the internet as a key mechanism for innovation, investment, entrepreneurship , access to new markets and employment for Zimbabweans. 12. Advocacy and Public Awareness 7. Decriminalisation of Freedom of Expression That in order for the internet to reach its fullest potential of allowing Zimbabweans to enjoy their human rights, stakeholders actively embrace the decriminalisation of freedom of expression. That government, relevant stakeholders and civil society organisations should intensify their public awareness campaigns on the importance of the internet as not only a developmental and entrepreneurial tool, but also as an emerging and inevitable technological cornerstone of freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom. That the internet being a cornerstone tool/mechanism for the enjoyment of the rights of all Zimbabweans to freedom of expression, access to information, right to privacy, and media freedom as outlined in the new constitution, must be accessible and affordable for all of our country’s citizens regardless of gender, race and class. 8. Democratic Regulation 13. Coordination of Efforts 3. The Internet of Things: That we contextualise the emergent ‘internet of things’ in our context to our national development needs in a manner that is inclusive, affordable and accessible for all Zimbabweans. 9. Cyber-security 2. Access and Affordability For All 4. Promotion of Government Public Accountability That the internet remains a key tool through which citizens can interact with their governments in pursuit of accountable democracy and national development. INTERNET GOVERNANCE MULTISTAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE REPORT 2015 That regulation of the internet must be undertaken by the state in a democratic, participatory, accountable and independent manner and in consultation with all stakeholders and civil society. That there be a democratic cyber-security framework in relation to national and regional security, protection of privacy and private property, which remains true to the right of all citizens to freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information. That there be greater coordination of efforts between various initiatives around internet governance frameworks. 14.Regional Solidarity and Lessons Learnt That Zimbabweans continue interacting and learning from our neighboring countries in the Southern African, African and broader international community on key developments, success stories and democratic regulatory frameworks around internet governance. 10. Corporate Monopolies and Censorship That there be engagement with corporate entities in internet service provision and telecommunications on all 033 www.misazim.com @misazimbabwe MISA Zimbabwe