The Foundation for Democratic Process has wondered why government is so terrified by the online media to want to shut it down.
FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi said government should embrace online media as it was representative of the strides being made in the modern era.
Chipenzi said with the conventional media concealing critical information from the public, the online media had proved to be an alternative for exposing wrong doing by the authorities.
“A Government intention to close down social media is not justified. What are they running away from? Why should they be so worried about transparency and being brought to account?” he wondered.
“Zambia should not run away from technology because that is what the world has come to. They think we are still in the colonial ear.”
And the Young African Leadership Initiative says Zambia is becoming a fully fledged dictatorship.
Communications and Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga recently said government was looking at ways to shut down online media as it was not reporting positive things about government.
Information Minister Mwansa Kapeya has repeatedly aired similar sentiments.
With the conventional media led by the formerly Independent Post Newspaper all churning out government propaganda with the exception of the Daily Nation, online media has stepped up to fill the void by highlighting ills in government.
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