22 DIGITAL RIGHTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA #ZimbabweanLivesMatter Campaign in 2020 (2) against human rights violations in Zimbabwe and also the #DataMustFall Campaign (3) against high costs of mobile data. The international standards and best practices set out in instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights are still applicable and relevant to digital rights. Exercise of digital rights is, therefore, centred by the capacity of individuals to exercise their human rights through technology and the internet, electronic devices and or communication networks. By Nompilo Simanje INTRODUCTION The internet has revolutionised the exercise of freedom of expression and of the media Africa and the rest of the world by providing channels for information sharing by both individuals and the media, fast and easier ways for communication and also the means for general public to organise itself for different causes. However, governments have also tried to control and or regulate the internet through legislation and also administrative conduct, in most instances contributing to the low levels of internet penetration and use by individuals and self-censorship. The concept of digital rights is yet to be fully embraced in Southern Africa, not only by governments but also by the general public. Several conversations relating to digital rights, have centred on whether or not digital rights are human rights. The United Nations Human Rights Council resolution of 2018 on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet aptly describes and unpacks digital rights and highlights that the same human rights that people have offline must be protected online. (1) Digital rights, also described as internet rights, are, therefore, the same human rights that people have and are entitled to offline. These include media freedom and freedom of expression, access to information and the right to privacy. The internet has also provided the platform for the exercise of freedom of association and the right to demonstrate as has been seen from several online campaigns like It should be noted that the thematic issues impacting exercise of digital rights vary with the countries in the Southern African Region for instance affordability of the internet is a key concern in Malawi while in Mauritius it is not. Also, exercise of digital rights varies among different societal groups like women, young people and the elderly. According to After Access Report 2018, cost, network service, access to devices, language barriers and low levels of skills limit the experiences of young people and the elderly to make use of the internet. Woman also face the additional barriers of cultural and gendered norms that hinder their access or mobile phone technology and to the internet. This report will, therefore, elaborate on the several factors that are influencing the exercise of digital rights in Southern Africa which include legislative provisions, internet access and affordability, surveillance and censorship, disinformation and propaganda among others. The specific target countries in Southern Africa, which shaped this report include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Lesotho. Examples were also drawn from other countries in the region. ENABLERS FOR THE EXERCISE OF DIGITAL RIGHTS INTERNET ACCESS Internet access is a key enabler for the exercise of digital rights. In 2020, the internet penetration rate in Africa stood at 39.3 percent,