Zimbabwe

CIPESA and OpenNet Africa Join Public Call Against Internet Shutdown in Zimbabwe

By Juliet Nanfuka |

Zimbabwe has experienced a shutdown of social media platforms and major websites as of January 15, 2019 following public protests against a 150% increase in fuel prices. The protests have resulted in the death of at least eight people and arrest of up to 200 others. The disruptions to online communications were reported on social media and also confirmed by network measurements conducted by Netblocks.

https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1085100824970313729

The…

Zimbabwe government clarifies Cyber Security Bill

The Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services says the Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Bill is a comprehensive legislation that is expected to address abuse of social media in Zimbabwe.

The bill, which came as a result of wider consultations, provides for criminalisation of abuse of the social media.

“This bill is a solution to the growing abuse…

Zimbabwe Government to Speed Up Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Bill in Response to Ransomware cyber-attack

Zimbabwe ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira said yesterday that in the face of the recent global ransomware cyber-attack, the government is speeding up the approval of the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Bill.

The minister was speaking at an occasion to mark the successful acquisition of Telecel Zimbabwe by the government yesterday.

Mandiwanzira said the government is taking the recent WannaCry cyber-attackseriously:
Government will not sit back and watch this…

Zimbabwe’s Digital Activism Amidst Disproportionate Government Control of the Internet

By Juliet Nanfuka |

In 2016, activism in Zimbabwe took on a new persona through various social media campaigns that also transformed into offline activity.  In a move which critics believe is intended to suppress activism on social media, the national telecoms regulator known as the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) recently drove up internet access prices by up to 500% but…

Zimbabwe Data Ruling Could Be an Attempt to Clamp Down on Social Media, Quell Dissent

By Malcom Sharara|

In 2016 Zimbabweans ​used social media to air their grievances, criticise and eventually mobilise citizens to demonstrate against government.

Zimbawe’s new floor prices for data services could be an attempt to boost state coffers, or government’s way of curbing free speech through social media, according to analysts.

Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), which set…

Africa At Internet Freedom And Citizen Rights Cross Roads

By Thomas Sithole (@thomysithole)|

The Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2016 (FIFAfrica16) was my first time to attend and participate in a continental event on internet freedom. I have previously attended a number of workshops and conferences on internet freedom in my home country Zimbabwe.

Whereas these national level dialogues were useful in terms of making me appreciate the challenges we…

Strengthening Africa’s Conversation and Actions on Internet Freedom

By Juliet Nanfuka |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) with the support of Facebook, the Ford Foundation, Google, Hivos, Open Technology Fund (OTF) and Small Media will assemble an audience in Kampala, Uganda for the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2016. Set to take place on September 27–29, the Forum has become a…

Hiking The Price of Free Speech. The Real Reasons Behind Government’s Suspension of Telecoms Promos

By Digital Avatar|

The past few weeks have made for interesting viewing, reading, following, watching and sharing for those who have been following the telecoms industry in Zimbabwe. There have been many policy announcements and directives from the regulatory authorities in the face of increasing ‘misuse’ of social and digital platforms. Just recently all three mobile network operators announced the nearly synchronised…

Zimbabwe Becomes the Latest Country to Shut Down Social Media

By Juliet Nanfuka |

Less than a week after the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council declared that online rights must be protected and condemned disruptions to internet access, citizens in Zimbabwe became the latest victims of online communications shut down. Authorities in Zimbabwe shut down communications in the wake of protests against rampant corruption and misuse of state funds by…

Internet Governance Lessons Africa Can Learn From Brazil’s Success Story

By Arthur Gwagwa |

In the past decade, most African countries, with a few exceptions, have increased their technical and legal surveillance capabilities, under the justification of fighting crime and terrorism. State surveillance has also impacted negatively on human rights, in particular the right to freedom of speech, privacy, association and political participation. Therefore the cyberspace continue to present important opportunities…

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OpenNet Africa is an initiative of the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). We aim at monitoring and promoting internet freedoms in Africa. Read More

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