Mpundu questions return of CCTV Bill as minister accuses opposition of bitterness

Mpundu questions return of CCTV Bill as minister accuses opposition of bitterness

Nkana Independent Member of Parliament Binwell Mpundu has questioned the government’s decision to reintroduce the CCTV Bill in its original form after it was referred back to Parliament by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Raising the matter in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Mpundu criticised what he described as poor preparation at Cabinet level, arguing that the decision to resubmit the Closed-Circuit Television Public Protection Bill No. 1 of 2025 without addressing concerns raised by the President reflected a lack of thorough scrutiny.

The Bill had previously been withheld from assent after the President noted that it did not provide adequate safeguards governing the collection, use, storage, and protection of CCTV footage.

Mr Mpundu said while he supported the regulation of surveillance systems, the current provisions risked infringing on citizens’ privacy and imposed unnecessary restrictions on public activities.

He warned that the proposed law could limit the ability of individuals and organisations to livestream public events, suggesting that it would take up to a month to obtain the necessary approvals.

“CCTVs are essential in helping curb criminality,” Mr Mpundu said, adding that citizens often rely on private security systems due to limitations in public policing.

“But this Bill, as it stands, overreaches into the privacy of citizens. It has come back in the same form, and one wonders why public resources were spent to bring it back unchanged,” he said.

In response, Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu dismissed the criticism, accusing the opposition of harbouring resentment over the current administration.

Mr Mwiimbu said the government’s decision to return the Bill for further consideration demonstrated a commitment to democratic principles and public accountability.

“We have a President who does not rubber-stamp legislation,” he said. “He reads, analyses, and listens to the concerns of citizens.”

He contrasted the approach with that of previous administrations, which he claimed had passed laws without sufficient scrutiny, necessitating subsequent amendments.

Mr Mwiimbu said the government had taken into account submissions from stakeholders, including MPs who had previously raised concerns, and would introduce amendments to address the issues highlighted.

“We are a listening government,” he said. “We have made comprehensive recommendations to ensure that the concerns of the people of Zambia are addressed.”

The debate highlights ongoing tensions over the balance between public security measures and the protection of individual privacy rights.

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