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Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, senator Monica Mutsvangwa has said government shutting down of the internet is very much lawful in Zimbabwe’s case, as failing to shut down the internet would
have been a “total act of irresponsibility on the part of the State”.
Senator Mutsvangwa was responding to enquiries during an Internet Governance Forum which ended in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently.
“What is the value of allowing cyber coordinated violence in order to earn credits for
being democratic by nations pushing a regime change agenda through an opposition
party on the payroll of their budgets?
“Digital rights must not culminate in the violation of other rights. Like any other rights,
digital rights must not be abused to the point of limiting other citizens from enjoying
protection from the state.
“In the same vein, enjoyment of a particular right must not be a strain on the rights of
other individuals,” said Zimbabwe’s Information Minister Mutsvangwa.
Senator Mutsvanga said the State has the prerogative to guarantee maximum security to private
property from political hooliganism and all forms of irrationality it takes.Mutsvangwa said there was need for broad-based consensus among multilateral players to find
common points of convergence to treat the issue of digital rights as a human rights issue.
“Therefore, there is need for convergence on the common basics to ensure that issues of
e-governance, e-finance, e-health are accessible to all. Therefore, the Internet
Governance Forum should be that hub for establishing our shared digital solidarities
especially nations from the Global South, given their shared experiences and positioning
in the global digital political-economy,” she said.
Mutsvangwa also responded on whether there has been digital colonialism and possibly its effect, adding that while the Global South had been catching up on digital
technology, there had been standard “takers” and not “standard makers.”
“However, that culture of being standard takers’ instead of being standards makers’
should motivate the Global South to seek alternative strategies in the area of digital
transformation. This has been noted in the way countries like China, India and Iran have
taken a leading role in this respect,”
Minister Mutsvangwa supported the notion of ‘Conflict-induced digital shutdowns as lawful’ asserting that shutting down the internet during conflicts by governments across the globe is justified
to prevent digital platforms and social media from spreading propaganda and fake news
which might result in bloodshed.
Mutsvangwa said it would be irresponsible for a government not to shut down internet, lest there
might be cyber coordinated violence, hence the need to balance the right to information
and the desire to protect lives.
“Shutdowns during conflicts could be an attempt by governments across the world to
prevent the use of digital platforms and social media to spread propaganda and fake
news, which may result in more bloodshed, loss of life, and even genocide,” said the vocal Minister.
The Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
Minister added, “Of course, most governments in the (global) south need both institutional and human
capacity to deal with digital platforms in times of conflict. But again, even where policies,
laws, and regulations are in place.
“There is need to maintain connectivity and free access at all times but balancing the
right of the population to digital access and the right of the population to safety and
peace.”
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