The world has become a global village because clicks have joined people who are distantly apart as they are able to interact and transact to meet goals.

It has been termed strange not to belong to an online community because the world has shifted to the online space hence posing a disadvantage to people who are offline.

The internet has revolutionized communication such that people refer to it as a prefered mode of communication. In almost everything we do, we use the internet, even ordering a pizza.

Covid-19 highly testified on the significance of online spaces. Buying and selling online has become the order of the day. Keeping up with current affairs is just a click away.

The internet has also nurtured the rise of new forms of expression for art and the exchange of knowledge and skills.

Freedom of expression is a notion that every person has the right to freely express him or herself through word of mouth, writing, printing, pictures without any interference from anyone.

Social Media a platform for the voiceless

And the internet through social media has provided a great platform for the voiceless to have a voice.

People can now comment on any matter on social media, however, great as this development is, social media has still shown limitations to absolute freedom of expression.

This is because other users still interfere through comments or feedback.

With this trend increasing on digital spaces, others have even been fired or labelled ‘black’ just after holding and expressing their views online.

It is for this reason that over the years, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has been proactive in advocating for and defending Media freedom and freedom of expression.

Now, with the opening of digital spaces, MISA Zambia was engaged to be part of the agenda of FHI 360 and Internews under USAID Open Spaces Zambia (OSZ) project.

Open Space Zambia project, among other commitments, intends to promote digital literacy, cyber security and inclusive on-line spaces of engagement.

Internews Network Acting Chief of Party, Beatrice Mbumwae said there was need to strengthen and promote a viable independent media which means well for society.

Ms. Mbumwae who is the Programmes Lead says the project with funding from USAID will be implemented by FH1360 and Internews in collaboration with its consortium partners; Internews Network, Bloggers of Zambia, Panos Institute of Southern Africa and MISA Zambia.

The five years project aims to strengthen the democratic foundations of freedom of speech and assembly and build independent and new media.

It also focuses on safeguarding a space for activists, human rights defenders (HRDs), and oppositional voices to protect shrinking democratic spaces in the country.

Digital hygiene

Meanwhile, the Acting Chief of Party also observed and advised online users to practice digital hygiene while surfing on the internet.

“Learn to logout when you are not active on social media platforms to escape the probability of being hacked, don’t just switch off data,” she cautioned.

As the project is promoting increased access of non-online communities to the digital space, it is also emphasizing on online safety.

For this matter, Internews will also train girls and women in online safety to inculcate an online safety consciousness.

When asked why girls are a target audience, Ms. Mbumwae said statistics have shown through ZICTA that most victims tend to be girls and women.

She explained that cyberspace is complicated but with proper use people can find great opportunities like jobs, education scholarships and other personal developmental sites.

“Take your eyes where it counts. Know where to go online. Use your screens where it matters,” she highlighted.

Ms. Mbumwae who spoke passionately to Journalists during a two-day training by MISA Zambia at Mika Lodge in Lusaka says an enabling media environment was imperative.

MISA Zambia rounded up 30 Journalists from across the country to train as media monitors in a bid to track Media freedom, freedom of expression in the media and digital spaces.

And MISA Assistant Programmes Officer, Micheal Njobvu said the training was necessitated to empower Journalists with skills and knowledge to identify, document and report media violations.

“The trained Journalists will monitor the media space effectively and holistically to produce reports on Media freedom, and freedom expression violations against Journalists, Activists and digital actors in Zambia,” he disclosed.

This ambitious and worthy taking activity will enable MISA to assess accurately and consistently the state of Media freedom and expression.

Media freedom

Mr. Njhovu emphasize; “We believe Media freedom and that of expression are key tenets to democracy as they allow people to freely participate in governance issues thereby holding their leaders to account.”

It is worth noting that Media Freedom, Freedom of expression and digital rights are key to a fully functioning democracy and development that leaves no one behind.

MISA envisions a society which supports people to freely express themselves without interference from anyone.

And MISA Zambia’s Thomas Zulu who delivered a well packaged lecture to Journalists on media Ethics said if the media is not free, society will not be free hence the need to promote media freedom and expression.

Among other thought-provoking reflections delivered in the training were Journalism safety, ethics governing Journalism, advocacy and legislative laws that regulate the media space.

Journalists also shared their moving and hair-raising experiences of harassment and other violations in the discharge of their duty.

These are stories which will raise an emergency high flag on the need to respect and defend media freedom.

The Reporters who attended the training thanked MISA Zambia for the initiative to train and incorporate media practitioners in media monitoring.

Serenje Radio News Editor, Chanda Mulenga from Central Province said the training was self-building and a needed knot to strengthen observance of media ethics.

“The engagement has added to my career development. I have especially appreciated the topic on Misinformation, Disinformation and Misinformation and digital rights. Thanks MISA Zambia for empowering me,” she said

Ms Mulenga noted that media monitoring helps content producers know the feedback from their audience and how to improve.

And Anthony Tapa, a President for North-Western Province Press Club commended MISA Zambia for the training describing it as “timely”.

Mr. Tapa says in the t past Journalists were harassed by politicians, business communities and some sectors of society but such issues went silent and no help was usually rendered.

Mr. Tapa thus called on MISA Zambia to rise to the occasion and respond to concerns surrounding the media.

“It was a training worth attending, monitoring media freedom and reporting media violation is key to curbing violation of the media or freedom of expression,” he stated.

Meanwhile the Press Club President also called on government and other stakeholders to prioritize and actualize the access to Information bill and not to just end in talks only.

He said when the piece of legislation becomes law, Journalists will be free to access information from sources without hindrances.

Without doubt, Media freedom and freedom of expression across all platforms cannot be separated from a well-functioning democracy because such an enabling environment will allow everyone to voice out without being told to keep quiet.