The #KeepItOn Coalition, a global network of more than 345 organisations across 106 countries dedicated to ending internet shutdowns, has urged the Zambian government to ensure unrestricted access to the internet, social media, and other digital communication platforms before, during, and after the country’s August 13, 2026, general elections, warning that any disruption could undermine human rights, democratic participation, and the credibility of the electoral process.
The coalition, comprising more than 370 organisations from 106 countries, welcomed the Ministry of Technology and Science’s commitment not to shut down the internet during the election. It, however, called on President Hakainde Hichilema to give a clear public assurance that people will continue to have open access to the internet throughout the election period.
The coalition said the internet has become an important part of elections. Voters use it to get information, follow campaigns, and engage with candidates, while journalists, election observers, and civil society groups depend on digital platforms to monitor and report what is happening on the ground.
It warned that shutting down the internet during an election could make it harder for people to access reliable information and could limit the ability of journalists and election observers to monitor the voting process. It could also create an information gap that may allow misinformation and disinformation to spread more easily.
Recall that Zambia experienced internet disruptions during previous elections. The coalition noted that social media platforms and messaging services, including WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, were blocked during the August 2021 elections. The shutdown was later lifted after civil society organisations challenged it in court.
The coalition said Zambia should not repeat this experience and urged the government to respect its commitment to keeping the internet open. It also called on telecommunications companies and internet service providers to provide reliable and uninterrupted services during the election and to resist any unlawful orders to disrupt access.
It further urged President Hichilema to ensure that Zambia’s Cybercrimes Act and Cybersecurity Act are not used to suppress freedom of expression before, during, or after the election.
“Internet shutdowns should never become the norm,” the coalition said, stressing that voters need access to information throughout the electoral process.
Signatories to the statement include Access Now, Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization (ADDO), Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs, African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), AfricTivistes, Avocats Sans Frontières France, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Bloggers of Zambia- BloggersZM, Center 4 Humanity Advocacy Knowledge Innovation (K-HAKI), CHANGE TANZANIA, Chapter One Foundation, Collaboration for International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Common Cause Zambia, Computech Institute, and Cross Border Initiative on Internet Governance (CBIIG).
Other signatories include Digicivic Initiative, Digitally Right, Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation, DigitalSENSE Africa, FORUMVERT, Foundation for Internet Rights and Innovation (FIRI), Global Voices, HakiFedha, Human Rights Consulting Group, Human Rights Journalists Nigeria, Imagined Spaces Initiative- Uganda, INSM Network, Iraq, International Press Centre, International Press Institute, Internet Governance Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG), Internet Protection Society (ex-Russia), Internet Society DR Congo, JCA-NET(Japan), Jonction, Senegal, KICTANet, Kijiji Yeetu, and Koneta Hub – South Sudan.
Also included is Ländliche Community Network Initiative (LCNI), Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan Network, Lizu Community Network, Magamba Network, Manushya Foundation, Media Diversity Institute – Armenia, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Miaan Group, Myanmar Internet Project, Nafasi Africa, Nubian Rights Forum, Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), Opening central Africa coalition (OCA), Organization of the Justice Campaign, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), PenPlusBytes, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Subsahara Africa Office, Rudi International, Sassoufit collective, Streetways Uganda (SU), SMSWithoutBorders, Society for The Empowerment of People-STEP, Targeted Rights Initiative, Tech & Media Convergency (TMC), TechTapestry, Thraets, Ubunteam, Unredacted Inc, Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE), West Africa Digital Rights Defenders Coalition, Women Empower and Mentor All (WEmpower), YODET, Zaina Foundation, Zambian Bloggers Network, and Zambia Free Press Initiative.
