CPJ Joins Call for Zambian Authorities to Keep Internet On During Elections

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alongside global partners within the #KeepItOn Coalition, has formally called upon Zambian authorities and local telecommunications service providers to guarantee free, stable, and open internet access throughout the nation's general election cycle. In a joint advocacy push, press freedom advocates emphasized that digital connectivity is a fundamental pillar for modern democratic participation, allowing citizens, observers, and journalists to share real-time updates and maintain transparency. This urgent appeal brings to the forefront lingering anxieties stemming from Zambia's 2021 general elections. During the previous poll, citizens experienced widespread disruptions and restricted access to major social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, severely hampering communication flows. Although the Ministry of Technology and Science assured the public that the government would not intentionally restrict internet connectivity during the current electoral exercise, civil society groups remain cautious, noting that official investigations into the cause of the 2021 shutdown failed to produce conclusive findings. Digital rights organizations maintain that internet shutdowns violate fundamental human rights and hinder economic activity, international observation, and freedom of expression. The coalition's letter stresses that transparency from telecommunication regulators and state bodies is vital to restoring public trust. Authorities have been urged to instruct network operators to resist any political pressure to pull the digital "kill switch," regardless of emerging security claims or online volatility during vote-casting and tallying phases. As Zambia navigates this critical democratic milestone, the international community continues to monitor the nation's digital landscape closely. Civil society actors argue that preserving an open internet safeguards the integrity of the vote by enabling independen