Monica Kayombo, Rusaka/Zambia
Media Initiative for Women in Zambia (MIWOZ) Director, Hellen Mwale, says the organisation remains committed to addressing violations of freedom of expression, as well as physical and digital threats targeting members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), the media, including women and girls.
She noted that one of the major challenges to promoting freedom of expression and digital rights stems from capacity gaps and limited knowledge and skills among CSOs and HRDs to engage effectively in digital civic activism.
“MIWOZ will seek to galvanize, solidify and amplify the voices of CSOs, HRDs, women and girls to embark on digital civic advocacy aimed at highlighting online freedom of expression (FoX) infringements or violations and the shrinking of physical and digital civic space in Zambia,” Ms Mwale said.
She added that the organisation is also committed to addressing the issue of limited digital resilience among most CSOs and HRDs, especially women and girls.
She cited that the shrinking of physical civic space is largely due to threats from State agents using anti-democratic laws such as the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act, the NGO Act, and the Public Order Act.
Ms Mwale said MIWOZ sees the need to promote enhanced digital civic and democratic participation by CSOs and HRDs, along with advancing knowledge and skills to support effective digital civic engagement.
“This will be done through complementary and inter-locking capacity strengthening, partnerships/alliance and coalition building, knowledge provision and advocacy through research on FoX, online infringements and training, among other things,” she said.
Ms Mwale emphasized that CSOs and HRDs—particularly women and girls—are key players in a democratic society, and thus must be empowered with digital skills that contribute to the strengthening of democracy.
MIWOZ, in collaboration with the Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF), will host a training on “Communication for Digital Safety” on September 28, 2025, targeting CSOs, HRDs, and the media.
