On August 9, Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga warned that the government would not hesitate to invoke the relevant legal provisions if some people decided to abuse the internet to peddle falsehoods about Thursday’s elections. “Government, therefore, expects citizens to use the internet responsibly. But if some people choose to abuse the internet to mislead and misinform, government will not hesitate to invoke relevant legal provisions to forestall any breakdown of law and order as the country passes through the election period,” said Malupenga. Apart from some pockets of violence in selected towns, the voting process was peaceful with an unprecedented voter turn out. https://diggers.news/local/2021/08/12/zambia-election-update-govt-shuts-down-social-media-ahead-ofvote-count/ 13th August THE Lusaka High Court has stayed ZICTA’s decision to order all mobile service providers to cease providing internet services as well as blocking access to WhatsApp and Facebook across the country. The court has stayed the decision pending determination of the matter in which Chapter One Foundation Limited is challenging the said decision by the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA). Chapter One Foundation Limited has now been granted leave to commence judicial review proceedings in the matter. This is according to an ex-parte order for leave to apply for judicial review signed by the Lusaka High Court, Friday. THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has called on the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to ensure that citizens’ rights are protected by restoring the internet and access to social media platforms. In a statement, Friday, LAZ president Abyudi Shonga said LAZ was gravely concerned at the shutdown of internet and social media platforms in the country. He added that the association abhors any manner of assault on constitutionally protected rights of citizens. “LAZ is also gravely concerned at the shutdown of internet and social media platforms in the country. The shutdown occurred during the period of voting on 12th August, 2021 and persists today. It is the view of LAZ that social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, are widely utilized by many Zambians as a medium of sharing and exchanging information. Our constitution, in Article 20(1) guarantees the right to information under the Bill of Rights,” Shonga said. “LAZ abhors any manner of assault on constitutionally protected rights of the citizens of this country. LAZ calls upon the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to urgently ensure that the rights of citizens are protected by the restoration of internet and access to social media platforms.” https://diggers.news/local/2021/08/13/laz-calls-on-zicta-to-urgently-lift-social-media-restrictions/ 13th August THE Lusaka High Court has dismissed a matter in which UPND sued ZNBC over failure to air the party’s campaign adverts for the 2016 elections during prime-time slots. The court threw out the matter for want of time. 44