democratic governance, right to information does not n information … What is equally imperative to consider cyber legislation is being used by governments essential. Departments andjournalists. Agencies (MDAs), civil society, the med against its own citizens, particularly Similar concerns haveto been expressed by free CITIZENS ability play their partEMPOWERING in effective Right to Information expression campaigners in Namibia who have pointed out that the introduction of mandatory WITH INFORMATION means assessing both political will and having a con SIM card registration and data retention regulations might have a far-reaching impact on considering and addressing capacity issues tosuch as sensitisa Southern Africa continues lag behind other online privacy and data protection in the country. regions on the African continent in terms of number ofof countries that have passed and The ACTION Coalition, a networkthe of the forNamibia non-compliance, building strategic partnership b organisations campaigning for free expression implemented Access to Information (ATI) laws, thereby rendering the protection of the right and access society to information-related and the rights, newhave innovative possibilities of Information noted that the regulations and conditions provide to access information inaccessible to a vast for continuous bulk or mass surveillance, which majority of citizens in the region. (ICT) undermine to ensure that citizens have de facto access to th would undoubtedly investigative This is in spite of the20 widespread recognition of journalism and pose threats to sectors where fundamental freedomare andthehuman right.and developmental potential transformative privacy, anonymity and confidentiality (18) Country Angola Botswana Comoros Democratic Republic of Congo Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa United Republic Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Access to Information law X X X X X X X X Implementation status X X X X X X X X X 13