From Advocate of Freedom to Champion of Control: President Hichilema’s Cyber Bill U-Turn
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
When President Hakainde Hichilema was in opposition, he unflinchingly labeled the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill a “bad law.” He described it as a direct threat to Zambia’s democratic freedoms, a weapon for repression, and a dangerous step toward authoritarianism. He pledged to repeal it if elected as president.
Yet, after taking office, President Hichilema has done the unthinkable. Not only has he retained this contentious law, but his administration has also proposed its reinforcement. This shocking betrayal has left Zambians asking: What changed? How has a law once declared “bad” suddenly become essential to strengthen?
From Defender of Freedom to Advocate for Control
President Hichilema’s dramatic shift is more than just a policy reversal—it is a betrayal of trust. This is the same law President Hichilema once condemned as an instrument of state overreach, repression, and control. Today, his administration is championing it with alarming enthusiasm.
This inconsistency strikes at the very core of President Hichilema’s credibility. How can the president defend strengthening a law he once called oppressive? More importantly, why is his administration advocating for more surveillance and control when Zambia’s current legal framework is sufficient?
An Overwhelming Public Outcry
The proposed strengthening of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill has provoked fierce and widespread resistance. Civil society organizations, journalists, legal professionals, political analysts, and ordinary citizens have come together to oppose this draconian move.
Critics argue that the bill grants the government excessive and unchecked power to monitor private communications, access personal data, and suppress dissent. It is a textbook example of state overreach—a dangerous tool that could be weaponized against opposition voices, independent media, and civil society.
The recent decision by the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Mr. Jack Mwiimbu, to defer the bill’s second reading has done little to calm the storm. Stakeholders are not calling for a delay; they are demanding the complete rejection of this legislation. Zambia does not need new laws to tackle cyber-related crimes—it needs existing laws to be enforced justly and transparently.
A Betrayal of Campaign Promises
President Hichilema’s current stance directly contradicts his campaign rhetoric. While in opposition, President Hichilema argued passionately that Zambia already had sufficient legal mechanisms to address cyber-related offenses. He emphasized that enforcement, not additional legislation, was the real issue.
He also declared that there was “no need for additional laws to gag citizens,” asserting that freedom of expression and accountability are the cornerstones of a healthy democracy. These were not vague promises—they were bold, clear commitments to the Zambian people. Today, those commitments lie in tatters.
By proposing to strengthen this oppressive law, President Hichilema is undermining the very democratic principles he once championed. He is sending a chilling message: promises made in opposition can be conveniently discarded in power.
A Dangerous Precedent
The strengthening of this bill would do more than erode individual freedoms—it would set a precedent that endangers Zambia’s democratic future. It signals a government that prioritizes control over empowerment and suppression over engagement.
Globally, such laws have been exploited to silence dissent, weaken opposition, and consolidate authoritarian regimes. Zambia, once a beacon of democracy, risks slipping into the same perilous path. Strengthening the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill is not just unnecessary—it is dangerous.
A Test of Leadership
This issue is more than legal or political—it is a defining moment for President Hichilema’s leadership. The widespread rejection of the bill is not just a protest; it is a demand for accountability. The people of Zambia have spoken clearly: They do not want this law strengthened. Delaying its passage is not enough. The administration must abandon this misguided initiative entirely.
President Hichilema must remember the principles that brought him to power: liberty, accountability, and justice. These values are not negotiable—they are the bedrock of a free and democratic Zambia.
Democracy at Stake
At its core, democracy is about empowering citizens, not silencing them. Passing a strengthened Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill would undermine this fundamental principle, placing Zambia on a dangerous trajectory toward authoritarianism.
President Hichilema has a choice: honor the promises he made to the Zambian people, or betray the freedoms they fought to secure. The strengthening of this law would be a direct affront to the rights of every citizen.
Reaffirming the Democratic Promise
President Hichilema’s own words in opposition should guide his actions in power: Zambia does not need new laws to combat cybercrimes. The focus should be on fair, transparent, and impartial enforcement of existing laws—not on curtailing freedoms through oppressive legislation.
The strengthening of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill serves no purpose except to consolidate control over public discourse and silence dissent. This is not the Zambia Zambians fought for.
President Hichilema must recommit to the principles of freedom, accountability, and justice that define a true democracy. Anything less would not only be a betrayal of his campaign promises but a betrayal of Zambia’s democratic ideals.
The people deserve a leader who stands by his word—a leader who puts their freedoms above political expediency.