The Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter Vice President Chisomo Ngulube has called on government to review the current Cyber Security Act, saying it poses threats to journalists.
Ngulube raised the concerns today in Lilongwe during Open Day event organized by MACRA.
According to Ngulube, much as Cyber Security Act is important for protecting people from damages but it should also be reviewed to avoid scaring journalists over muzzling voices.
Ngulube mentioned a rule of arrest on cyber security offenders has to be reviewed and finding alternative penalties.
“Yes we would want to see change, a review of such laws so that journalists should be free to express themselves.
“We have seen journalists being arrested because of stories that they have written when actual fact, those that have aggrieved could have pursued civil means of redress” said Ngulube.
Reacting to that, Principal Secretary for the ministry of Information and digitalization, Baldwin Chiyamwaka, made an assurance that the revision of the law will be considered.
“It’s part of lawmaking process for government to makesure that occasionally, regularly, the laws, policies are reviewed, so certainly not long from now the laws in the communications industry will be reviewed and the cyber security law is definitely one of it”.
MACRA organized the Open Day forum with an aim of providing an interactive forum with operators and the consumers in order for MACRA to enhance it’s regulations functions.
Speaking after the event, Acting Director of Postal Services Barnet Namacha, who represented MACRA Director General, described the event as fruitful as it allowed prospective licensees to get immediate feedback on queries or information on how to operate an ICT Business in Malawi.
He also said it provided information on MACRA’s regulatory functions, tools needed, and required expertise.
