Contributions: Ms

Contribution

• Title
  Ms
• First Name
  Nyasha
• Last Name
  Nyakunu
• Professional Affiliation
  IGF Zimbabwe
• Stakeholder Group
  Civil Society

• Do you know of existing policy measures, and private sector or civil society initiatives addressing connectivity? If yes, was the policy a government policy, industry policy (either collective best practice or corporate policy), technical policy, or did i
  **Resolutions and Way Forward**
  >
  > **We**, participants to the MISA-Zimbabwe facilitated **National
  > Internet Governance Conference** held on 21 August 2015 in Harare,
  > Zimbabwe;
  >
  > **Having** debated and deliberated on the national importance of the
  > internet and its governance in Zimbabwe;
  >
  > **Informed** by presentations on existing national policies from
  > government representatives, experts in ICTs, internet based businesses,
  > telecommunications companies, internet content producers, bloggers,
  > academics and colleagues within Zimbabwe and from our African continent;
  >
  > **Affirming** our support and acceptance of the establishment of the
  > Zimbabwe Internet Governance Forum (ZIGF), in line with global and
  > continental best practices as established under the World Summit on
  > Information Societies (WSIS) and International Telecommunications Union
  > (ITU), both of which our country Zimbabwe is signatory to;
  >
  > **Cognisant** of the fact that our new constitution specifically
  > recognises the right of all Zimbabweans to freedom of expression, media
  > freedom, access to information and the right to privacy and that these
  > fundamental rights include the right to freely access, use and enjoy
  > ICTS, the internet and cyberspace;
  >
  > **Hereby** resolve to be guided by the following principles and actions
  > on internet governance in Zimbabwe.
  >
  > 1.**Internet Regulation Principles:** That internet regulation must be
  > guided by the following key principles:
  >
  > a. Protecting the democratic rights of all citizens to freedom of
  > expression, access to information, privacy and protection of
  > intellectual property.
  >
  > b. Ensuring that all Zimbabweans have unhindered access to the
  > internet.
  >
  > c. Access to the internet must be affordable and predicated on
  > net-neutrality
  >
  > d. Infrastructure development and competition must be friendly to
  > the environment and predicated on environmental sustainability.
  >
  > e. Competition between telecommunications corporations, internet
  > service providers, content providers and other ancillary services be
  > fairly regulated in the interest of promoting access, diversity and
  > affordability and respect for human rights
  >
  > 2. **Access and Affordability For All:** That the internet being a
  > cornerstone tool/mechanism for the enjoyment of the rights of all
  > Zimbabweans to freedom of expression, access to information, right to
  > privacy, and media freedom as outlined in the new constitution, must be
  > accessible and affordable for all of our country's citizens regardless
  > of gender, race and class.
  >
  > 3. **The Internet of Things**: That we contextualise the emergent
  > a 'internet of things' in our context to our national development
  > needs in a manner that is inclusive, affordable and accessible for all
  > Zimbabweans.
  >
  > 4. **Promotion of Government Public Accountability:** That the internet
  > remains a key tool through which citizens can interact with their
  > governments in pursuit of accountable democracy and national
  > development.
  >
  > 5. **Promotion and Development of Local Content: **That there be active
  > encouragement and investment in the production and development of local
  > content that is gender sensitive and focused on our national context.
  >
  > 6. **Copyright**: That copyright on the internet be a priority for
  > policy makers and all internet stakeholders in order to protect
  > intellectual property rights.
  >
  > 7. **Decriminalisation of Freedom of Expression:** That in order for the
  > internet to reach its fullest potential of allowing Zimbabweans to enjoy
  > their human rights, stakeholders actively embrace the decriminalisation
  > of freedom of expression.
  >
  > 8. **Democratic Regulation: **That regulation of the internet must be
  > undertaken by the state in a democratic, participatory, accountable and
  > independent manner and in consultation with all stakeholders and civil
  > society.
  >
  > 9. **Cyber-security:** That there be a democratic cyber-security
  > framework in relation to national and regional security, protection of
  > privacy and private property, which remains true to the right of all
  > citizens to freedom of expression, media freedom and access to
  > information.
  >
  > 10. **Corporate Monopolies and Censorship:** That there be engagement
  > with corporate entities in internet service provision and
  > telecommunications on all issues to do with censorship and respect for
  > human rights as well as further engagement with the public on issues of
  > internet governance.
  >
  > 11. **Internet-Based Entrepreneurship**: Government and stakeholders
  > should value the internet as a key mechanism for innovation, investment,
  > entrepreneurship , access to new markets and employment for Zimbabweans.
  >
  > 12. **Advocacy and Public Awareness: **That government, relevant
  > stakeholders and civil society organisations should intensify their
  > public awareness campaigns on the importance of the internet as not
  > only a developmental and entrepreneurial tool, but also as an emerging
  > and inevitable technological cornerstone of freedom of expression,
  > access to information and media freedom.
  >
  > 13. **Coordination of Efforts:** That there be greater coordination of
  > efforts between various initiatives around internet governance
  > frameworks.
  >
  > 14.**Regional Solidarity and Lessons Learnt:** That Zimbabweans continue
  > interacting and learning from our neighboring countries in the Southern
  > African, African and broader international community on key
  > developments, success stories and democratic regulatory frameworks
  > around internet governance.
  >
  > **Ends**