Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) freedom of the press, and (2) the impact on freedom of expression, of proposals to empower police to intercept communications and seize electronic equipment in Zimbabwe.

We are concerned about the proposed Social Media Bill in Zimbabwe. The British Ambassador raised this with the Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting on 19 September highlighting the importance of protecting freedom of media and expression, as guaranteed by Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution. The Ambassador also emphasised the importance of urgent implementation in law of the provisions of the constitution.