President Edgar Lungu says he will sign the Cyber Security Bill once it is submitted to him and after proof reading it. The President says the registration of the bill has already been passed by parliament and he is waiting to receive it.

He says by following the proceedings of the cybersecurity bill in parliament through debate, he is sure that parliament has interrogated each and every section or clause of the bill.

The Head of State said this at State House in Lusaka yesterday when a team from Cyber Hygiene Zambia paid a courtesy call on him.

“I’m happy to have you here at State House to further encourage you that your course is not in vain. As you very well know the cyber crime registration has passed through. I’m just waiting for the submission of the document or the statute by parliament and as soon as this is done of course I would sign promptly but I will proof read for the comas, full stops and all that’s substantial,” he said.

The President noted that by law he can reject a bill and take it back if it does not meet his interests or that of the Zambian people but stated that he is inclined however to believe that the job has been made easier for him as parliament has already done justice to the document.

“By law I’m supposed to reject a bill and take it back if it’s not acceptable in my interest and in my assessment of the interests of the people but I’m sure having followed proceedings in parliament as they debate, parliament has done justice by the bill by interrogating each and every section or clause,” he said.

He added “So I’m inclined to believe that the job is easier for me to simply appraise myself with what actually is in the statute and then sign it,”

And the Head of State is hopeful that the people responsible for ensuring cyber security will carry out their mandate diligently and without fear.

“We hope that those who are charged with the responsibility of the cyber security will do so diligently without fear or favour and we as government will support,” he indicated.

President Lungu regretted that through cyber crime a lot of people have suffered hence the need to carry on with the fight.

“Let’s carry on with the fight a lot of people have suffered from a lot of bullying from cyber space some people have lost lives and I think it can’t continue,” said the President.

And Cyber Hygiene Zambia Chairman and Founder Solomon Shakele said the team called on the President yesterday to pay gratitude to the solidarity received from him during their walk to Livingstone recently.

Captain Shakele stated that main objective of the walk which was intended to make cyber bullying a conversation in every household was achieved.

He said his organisation has a lot of programmes intended to continue with sensitisation against cyber bullying which are targeting higher learning institutions.

“It is important that we promote change of mindsets for Zambia’s on how internet can be used,” said Capt Shakele.

Meanwhile, Cyber Security Brand Ambassador Thokozile Muwamba said it is sad that Zambian morals have been degraded when it comes to use of internet.

Capt. Muwamba advised that Zambians must not turn away from upholding their Christian values as they use the cyber space.

“Let’s go back to upholding our morals. Whatever we do even on internet we should relate it to our Christian values. Zambia is a Christian nation,” she noted.

The reduction in nomination fees for presidential and parliamentary candidates by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has cheered stakeholders in Muchinga Province.

A cross section of stakeholders in Muchinga Province, have welcomed the move by ECZ to reduce the nomination fees in the August 12 general elections.

Speaking in separate telephone interviews in Chinsali yesterday, aspiring candidates for mayoral position in Mpika district on the PF ticket Haggai Ng’andu said the reduction in nomination fees by ECZ will allow a lot of people to exercise their democratic rights.

Mr Ng’andu added that the step taken by ECZ is welcome, saying maintaining a high nomination fee could have deprived and disadvantaged many people who wish to stand in various positions ahead of this years’ general elections.

He said he is happy that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has finally yielded to pressure from stakeholders, calling for the reduction of fees for the 2021 general elections.

Mr Ng’andu lamented that the first proposed nomination fees by ECZ were too high for some potential candidates.

He further thanked the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) and other electoral players for the role they played in ensuring that the proposed nomination fees for the 2021 General Elections are reduced.

“I wish to appreciate all those that were involved and made serious submissions to ECZ to have the nomination fees reduced,” he stated.

And Chinsali Mayor, Thomas Mutale, has thanked ECZ for considering the plight of many Zambians and hearing their cry.

Mr Mutale said the reduction has come at the right time and it will allow all those wishing to stand in various positions to raise the required nomination fee.

Meanwhile, another aspiring candidate vying for the position of MP in Mpika Constituency, Danny Chisanga, has commended ECZ for listening to the concerns of stakeholders and acting quickly.

Mr Chisanga said the K5, 000 that has been knocked out from the nomination fees will help facilitate his movements to areas where has not yet reached.

He said nowadays, money is hard to come by hence the reduced amount is a relief to him and many other candidates.

“What ECZ has done will allow all those who were disadvantaged due financial challenges yet have leadership qualities, to exercise their rights and leadership potential,” he said.

Mr Chisanga said the move will see more people participate in the elections as it is one of the requirements of democracy.

ECZ recently announced the reduction in Nomination fees for presidential and parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming general elections slated for August 12, has been reduced by K5, 000.

Male presidential candidates will now pay K95, 000 from K100, 000, while their female counterpart will pay K75, 000 from the initial proposal of K80, 000 respectively.

Female Parliamentary candidates fees have now been pegged at K13, 500 from the initial K15, 000 whereas the male candidates will part away with K15, 000 from K20, and 000.

Last year stakeholders among them, the church, opposition political parties, Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) and other electoral players, among others, rejected the first proposal of nomination fees saying it was too high and asked ECZ to reduce the fees.

President Edgar Lungu has said that the Cyber Security and Cybercrimes Bill should be enforced without fear or favor when it is enacted into Law. President Lungu said that a number of people have suffered at the hands of individuals who abuse the cyberspace and that this cannot be allowed to continue.

The President said that there is a need for Cyberspace to be used for the good of society and not to be abused by people with criminal minds.

The President said that the Bill is likely to be signed into Law as early as Friday this week. President Lungu said that much as he has the right to reject a Bill, this is not likely to happen because he followed the debates in Parliament on the Cyber Security and cybercrimes Bill, adding that parliament did a good job by considering a number of factors as it debated the bill.

President Lungu said this when he met a team of officials from the Cyber Hygiene Zambia at State House today.

And Cyber Hygiene Zambia Brand Ambassador Thokozile Muwamba said it is sad that people are abusing social media. Captain Muwamba said a child who was raised in an African home cannot insult people on Social media like the case is now.

She said insulting people is not only unAfrican but also against the country’s Christian values.

Meanwhile, Cyber Hygiene Zambia Chairperson Solomon Shakele said his organisation will continue educating people on the proper use of the cyber space.

Recently, Captain Muwamba and her team undertook a walk dubbed ‘Walkathon’ from Lusaka to Livingstone aimed at creating awareness against cyberbullying.

The Livingstone Magistrate Court has convicted former Livingstone Mayor Milford Maambo, former Livingstone acting Town Clerk Chabala Chanda and former councillor Ziwa Ziwa, for corrupt practices and sentenced them to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr. Maambo, Mr. Chanda and Mr Ziwa were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in 2018 and charged with 26 counts of corrupt practices.

The offences include offering of plots to land surveyors as inducement for demarcating land and corrupt acquisition of public property which they later sold.

In a statement released to the media, ACC Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono said the trio was also charged with abuse of authority of office, in the manner they issued offer letters for illegally obtained land and failure to follow laid down procedure.

Mr. Moono said the offences were committed in 2014 when the trio was still in office.

Livingstone Senior Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo convicted the trio on Tuesday, and sentenced them to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour, with effect from March 16, this year.

The sentences in all counts will run concurrently.