20 reinstatement of the internet. In his September 2019 report, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule recommended that the government of Zimbabwe should refrain from introducing restrictions on access to and use of the Internet, including shutdowns. However, in July 2020, there were reports that the government of Zimbabwe had throttled the internet, after activists called for nationwide demonstrations on 31 July 2020 and the government responded by slowing down the speed of the main internet gateway, TelOne (12). Zambia has repeatedly stated its intentions to regulate cyberspace, especially to deal with “fake news”. The debate on regulation of online spaces has been rife, culminating into three Bills in the process of enactment. The Data Protection Bill, the E-Commerce Bill and the Cybersecurity Bill are aimed at addressing what is being called “social media lawlessness”. These proposed laws, if not aligned to international standards and best practices, may inhibit freedom of expression and media freedom. Censorship of the media in Zambia is also prevalent. In January 2020, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Amos Malupenga barred the media from using any statement from Zambian missions abroad without prior clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a letter he wrote to the Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, ZNBC and ZANIS. He argued that this would ensure “proper organisation, coordination and consistency in dissemination of information to the public.” Earlier, in March 2019, the Ndola High Court through an ex-parte order of interim injunction gagged the Daily Nation newspaper from reporting on the emerald mining scandals involving Gemcanton Emerald Mine. The order granted to Wolle Mining Limited restrains the paper from publishing injurious articles. And in June 2020, it is reported that members of the ruling Patriotic Front disrupted a live telephone interview at Kwenje radio featuring opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema by tampering with the power supply system. In July 2020, Tanzania passed the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations that control online platforms, ahead of its Presidential elections on 28 October 2020. These regulations introduce exorbitant licence fees for online content service providers and internet service providers. The motive and timing of the regulations raise concerns as the operational environment for the enjoyment of civic rights in the country is shrinking further, especially as regards the enjoyment of freedom of expression, media, access to information and the right to assemble online. Malawi’s Cybersecurity and Electronic Transaction Act (2016) seeks to regulate online transactions and in the process limits online expression. The legislation has a number of clauses that affect media freedom and freedom of expression. Section 24 provides for restriction of online communication in order to “promote human dignity and pluralism in the expression of thoughts and opinions,” “protect public order and national security,” “facilitate technical restrictions…” and “enhance compliance with the requirements of any other written law.” Most free speech advocates believe that these clauses are broad and fail to provide a clear framework of what amounts to “human dignity…,” “public order and national security” or “technical restrictions.” In addition, section 31 requires online content producers and editors to publish their identity and other details of their publication. This has a chilling effect and promotes self-censorship. The Lesotho Communications Authority issued a draft of their Internet Broadcasting Rules, 2020, aimed at regulating social media. The Rules mandate all users with more than 100 followers to register with the Authority and obtain an “internet broadcasting allowance”. The proposed Rules also give the Authority power to remove posts. These rules are said to be targeting social media critics. In a report released by AfroBarometer in October 2020, 51% of Basotho say that access to the internet and social media helps people to be more informed and active, and should be unrestricted. The study also discovered that only about 35% of Basotho supported internet regulation by the government. On 31 January 2020, Eswatini’s National Commissioner of Police, William Dlamini, stated that it had come to their attention that there were “highly insolent and morality devoid characters disseminating seditious, slanderous and very insulting statements about the country’s authorities via social media”, adding that they would harshly deal with such perpetrators. Namibia does not have adequate oversight mechanisms to enable legitimate, proportionate and necessary communication surveillance in the digital age. The current legislative regime including the Namibia Central Intelligence Services Act of 1997 and the Communications Act