President Hakainde Hichilema has appeared to weigh in on the internet shutdown conversation with a short message that has caught attention online.
Posting on Facebook, the President wrote: “Sorry to the VPN Providers 😂”
The comment comes as Government has assured Zambians that there will be no internet shutdown during this year’s elections, unlike during the 2021 polls.
Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu said Government is working with players in the telecommunications sector to keep connectivity stable throughout the electoral period.
Dr. Habeenzu said Government has not established what exactly led to the internet shutdown experienced in 2021, despite efforts to determine the cause.
He assured the public that authorities have strengthened measures to protect communication networks from possible disruptions during this year’s elections.
According to the Permanent Secretary, Government has neither planned nor intends to deliberately shut down internet connectivity.
He said that should an interruption occur, it would be attributed to unforeseen technical challenges rather than a deliberate Government decision.
Against that backdrop, President Hichilema’s “Sorry to the VPN Providers 😂” post has added a lighter moment to a conversation that has been closely watched since the 2021 election internet restrictions.
Whether the President was simply making a joke about VPN usage or referencing the Government’s latest assurance, the timing of the post has certainly given Zambians something to talk about.