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Contributions: Ms
Created On Monday, 07 September 2015 18:20Contribution
- 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**