CCTV bill dangerous, threat to human rights, democracy – Mpundu

CCTV bill dangerous, threat to human rights, democracy

By Mast Reporter

LEADER of the Movement for Good Governance Binwell Mpundu says the newly introduced Closed Circuit Television Public Protection (CCTV) Bill in Parliament is a threat to human rights and democracy.

Mpundu, who is independent Nkana member of Parliament, said the

rights of the people of Zambia had been put on the line when surveillance masked as security.

He said that while the bill was being presented by government as a means to enhance public safety, its provisions threatened to undermine the privacy, dignity and constitutional freedoms of the people of Zambia.

“As leader of the Movement for Good Governance, I have raised serious concerns about the Closed-Circuit Television Public Protection Bill (CCTV bill) currently before Parliament. While the bill is marketed as a means to enhance public safety, its provisions threaten to undermine the privacy, dignity and constitutional freedoms that are fundamental to our society. In reality, this legislation risks opening the door to unchecked surveillance and excessive state intrusion into the lives of Zambian citizens,” he said.

He said in its current form, the bill granted sweeping powers to the United Party for National Development (UPND) government agencies to install, monitor and access CCTV footage across the whole Zambia with little to no independent oversight from any body.

Mpundu said if left unchecked the law, if enacted, would allow warrantless searches, arbitrary seizures and the collection of personal data without consent or knowledge of Zambians.

He said the bill gave powers to a minister to choose who to investigate or not.

Mpundu said his movement would oppose any attempt by the UPND to pass what he described as “a dangerous legislation”, demanding laws that protected, not persecuted; that empowered, not enslaved Zambians.

“I urge all Zambians youth, elders, workers and business owners to join us in rejecting this bill. Security without freedom is oppression. Surveillance without accountability is tyranny and that is what the UPND government has now become; a complete dictatorship, a government that continues to enact laws that oppresses and infringe the rights of citizens. Let us choose a Zambia where the law serves the people not the other way around,” Mpundu said.