GOVERNMENT TO TABLE CYBER SECURITY, CYBER CRIME BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT IN CURRENT SESSION

Minister of Technology and Science says government will table the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill before Parliament in the current session.

Speaking when Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Johan Hallenborg paid a courtesy call on him in Lusaka today, Felix Mutati reveals that Government has since proposed in the new law that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security will take charge of cyber crimes while Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) will be in charge of cyber security.

Mr. Mutati states that the current scenario where ZICTA is handling both cyber crimes and cyber security is not enough because the regulator cannot enforce the law and arrest culprits.

He says in the new laws to repeal the Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security Act, government has resolved that ZICTA will concentrate on cyber security, as the Ministry of Home Affairs has the legal mandate to enforce the law and arrest wrongdoers.

And Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Johan Hallenborg says the collaboration between Zambia and Sweden on the Double Digital Compact is helping drive the agenda at the international level.

Mr. Hallenborg states that Sweden wants to work with Zambia on this front and will also collaborate on the repealing of the Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security Act.

Meanwhile, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) wants to collaborate with a number of Zambian institutions in research and development.

SIDA Research Advisor Dr. Markus Moll adds that his institution is ready to work with the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to further research which can promote development.

Government has decided to revise the law to strengthen the legal framework and promote a free internet society.