Zambia Ministry: No Tracking Citizens Abroad for Hichilema Criticism

• Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo stated the Zambian government will not track citizens abroad.
• This policy applies to Zambians disparaging President Hakainde Hichilema on social media.
• The government will not spend resources on monitoring such online activities.
• The statement was made by a senior official within the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security.

This public commitment potentially mitigates concerns about surveillance or legal repercussions related to their online political commentary, fostering an environment where the Zambian diaspora might feel more at ease expressing their views.

Permanent Secretary for Technical Services in Zambia's Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Dickson Matembo, recently announced that the government has no intention of dedicating state resources to monitor Zambian citizens residing abroad. This declaration specifically addresses individuals who engage in critical commentary or disparagement of President Hakainde Hichilema through various social media platforms. Matembo's statement, made during an interview, outlines a clear position regarding the allocation of governmental efforts and surveillance capabilities.

The pronouncement from a senior official within the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security underscores a specific policy direction. It indicates that the Zambian government will not deploy its assets or personnel to track down members of the diaspora whose online activities involve expressing negative views or disparaging remarks directed at President Hakainde Hichilema. This clarification aims to delineate the scope of the government's monitoring activities concerning its citizens living outside the country.

The policy articulated by Permanent Secretary Matembo highlights a deliberate decision concerning the deployment of national resources. Rather than investing in the surveillance of overseas Zambians for their online political expressions, the government has indicated a different set of priorities. This stance suggests a focus away from what might be perceived as politically motivated tracking, particularly when it involves criticism of the head of state from individuals in the diaspora.

This official communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security serves as a public statement on the Zambia government's approach to social media monitoring. It establishes a boundary for the extent of government oversight regarding the online activities of its citizens abroad. The emphasis on not "spending resources" implies a cost-benefit analysis or a policy choice to direct funds and personnel towards other areas deemed more critical than tracking disparagement of President Hichilema overseas.

For the Zambian diaspora, this statement from Dickson Matembo could have significant implications for their freedom of expression and their engagement with political discourse. Citizens living outside Zambia who have previously voiced criticism or disparagement of President Hichilema on social media may find some reassurance in the government's explicit declaration that it will not expend resources to track them. This public commitment potentially mitigates concerns about surveillance or legal repercussions related to their online political commentary, fostering an environment where the Zambian diaspora might feel more at ease expressing their views.

The assurance provided by the Permanent Secretary for Technical Services suggests a degree of latitude for Zambians abroad to engage in political discourse, even if it involves critical assessment of the current administration or President Hichilema. While the statement does not endorse disparagement, it publicly commits the government to not actively pursue or track individuals for such online expressions. This contributes to a clearer understanding of the Zambia government's social media monitoring policy as it pertains to its citizens overseas, particularly regarding instances of President Hichilema disparagement overseas. The focus is clearly on the non-expenditure of resources for this specific type of monitoring.

Lawyers advising Zambian citizens living abroad can inform clients that the government has publicly stated it will not expend resources tracking individuals for disparaging President Hichilema on social media, potentially mitigating concerns about surveillance or legal action related to online expression.

Source: Reporting based on The Zambian Observer's original coverage.