UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuuwe has strongly criticised the United Nations (UN) human rights report, dismissing it as misguided, baseless and lacking the serious and substance one would expect.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16jw9bdY4H/?mibextid=oFDknk
The findings of the recent UN Special Rapporteur report, led by Irene Khan, painted a picture of human rights abuses in the country and recommendations to the government as well as commendation for some strides achieved.
The report raised concerns regarding Zambia’s human rights record, specifically focusing on key areas such as freedom of expression, digital rights, and the state of civic space.
In response to the special Rapporteur’s report, Simuuwe asserted that the findings are not credible and should not be taken serious.
Speaking when he addressed journalists yesterday, Simuuwe stated that the findings may contain some elements of truth or falsehood, but regardless of accuracy, they have been published.
Simuuwe pointed to the country’s cyber laws, asserting that they are aligned with global norms for digital rights and data protection.
“Our existing cyber laws comply with international standards and best practices for digital rights and data protection and these laws are designed to protect our citizens, and we have implemented them in a manner that respects the fundamental rights of our people while maintaining the integrity and security of our digital infrastructure,” Simuuwe stated.
He emphasised that the report poses a significant threat to Zambia’s sovereign right to legislate, especially regarding the country’s development goals and public security needs.
Simuuwe underscored that Zambia, just like numerous other countries around the world, has enacted laws that criminalise seditious and hateful speech.
He also noted that similar provisions are present in platforms like Facebook, which employs cyber laws based on those of the United States of America.
Simuuwe further highlighted the ironic nature of the UN’s stance, which appeared to condemn Zambia’s enforcement of cyber laws that align with global best practices, despite the organisation’s role as an advocate for both cyber law and human rights.
“It is ironic that the UN, a global champion of cyber law and human rights, would criticise Zambia for following similar laws that are accepted and enforced around the world. Our country is committed to protecting its sovereignty while upholding the rule of law.”
By Sharon Zulu
June 21, 2025
