HIPSSA Project

Support for Harmonization of the ICT Policies in Sub-Sahara Africa, Workshop on the SADC Harmonized Legal Framework for Cyber Security Gaborone Botswana 27th February-3rd March 2012

Presentation on e-transaction and e-commerce assessment Report Prsenter: Adam Mambi, Rgional Lgal Expert on etransaction& e-Commerce

International Telecommunication Union

1)Background /Introduction 2)Executive Summary 3)review and Analysis of National

Summary of the Content

Legislation on E-Commerce and Electronic Transaction of SADC Member States (15 Countries) 4)Key Legal issues to be discussed

5.Key Legal issues to be discussed

Definitions Legal effect of electronic communications Legal recognition of electronic documents Requirements of writing Electronic Signature Cryptography providers for digital
signatures Legal recognition of original information Electronic contracts Time and place of communications Admissibility and evidentiary weight of electronic communications

Summary of the Content

5) Comparative Law Analysis (15 Countries) 6) Comparative with Best Practices and

Regional Trends 7) General Assessments of Regional Texts 8)Summary of Assessment of Regional Texts 9)Conclusion and recommendations 10)Summary Chart of results of this comparative analysis/Key Elements and Status

1.Background
What is e-transaction? -transactions conducted electronically e.g.

communications, Govt services online etc E-transaction may include e-commerce, mcommerce, e-signatures, etc What is e-commerce? use of electronic systems to engage in commercial activities-B2B, B2C, C2C, C2G use of production information in electronic forms instead of paper, for business or government operations

Executive Summary
Purpose-to provide an analysis of the key issues and
common principles reflected in ICT regulatory and legislative frameworks relating to e-commerce and electronic transactions in the SADC Member States Review of laws to identify relevant trends and key issues on e-commerce and electronic transactions provide the basis for comparison with other countries within SADC, and eventual gap analysis to facilitate harmonization of policies and laws Relevant Laws are identified and highlight key legal issues that facilitate e-commerce as compared to international and other regional best practises.

Brief observation from the study(situation analysis)

The study reveals that only few HIPSSA
beneficiary countries in SADC that have some laws or provisions either directly or indirectly recognize electronic transactions and e-commerce. Countries: The Republic of South Africa, Mauritius Seychelles Zambia

Other Countries with e-transaction and ecommerce related laws

1. Countries with Draft Laws/Bills

on e-transaction and e-commerce related laws Namibia 2. Countries with some related Laws: Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania,

Review and Analysis of National Legislation on ETransaction and E-Commerce and of SADC Member States (15 Countries)

1) The Republic of Angola-No Law Related Law: The Basic Telecommunications Law
2) The Republic of Botswana-No Law Related Laws: Consumer Protection Act of 1999, The Telecommunications Act, 1996, Cybercrime and Computer Related Crimes, Chapter 08:06 3)Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-No Law 4)The Kingdom of Lesotho-No Law Related Laws: Telecommunications Authority Act 2000 5)The Republic of Madagascar-No Law 6)The Republic of Malawi-No Law Related Laws: Telecommunications Act, 1998 7) The Republic of Mauritius- Comprehensive Laws on e-transaction & ecommerce: (1) The Electronic Transactions Act . Addressees key issues related to e-transactions & e-commerce

 (1) The Electronic Transactions Act 2000-Mauritius: Adequately

provides key issues on e-transactions and e-commerce (2) The Data Protection Act, 2004 -No specific law on consumer protection 8) The Republic of Mozambique-No Law Related laws: The Telecommunications Act (Law 22/92 9) The Republic of Namibia-No Law but has Bill on Use of Electronic Transactions and Communications since 2010. Related laws: Payment System Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 18 of 2003) 10) The Republic of Seychelles: Comprehensive Laws on etransaction & ecommerce: (1) The Electronic Transactions Act 2001. Addressees key issues related to e-transactions & ecommerce

11)The Republic of South Africa-Comprehensive Laws on etransaction & ecommerce: (1) The Electronic Transactions Act 2001. Addressees key issues related to e-transactions & ecommerce including Consumer Protection Related laws: Consumer Protection Act, 12) The Kingdom of Swaziland-No Law 13) The United Republic of Tanzania-No Specific Law: Related Laws: Electronic and Postal Communications Act,2010. Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Act, 2003 Miscellaneous Amendments Act, 2007

 The Republic of Zambia- Comprehensive Law on

e-transaction & ecommerce: (1) The Electronic Transactions Act 2001. Addressees key issues related to e-transactions & e-commerce including Consumer Protection The Republic of Zimbabwe-No Specific Law Related Laws: (1)The Postal and Telecommunications Act 2000 (2) the Interceptions of Communications Act, 2008 (3) Access to Information and protection of Privacy Act, 2004

General Assessments and comparative analysis of Regional Texts

Assessment has been based on best practises. Generally, four countries namely Mauritius,
Seychelles, South Africa and Namibia has specific laws that address key issues on etransactions and e-commerce. The frameworks provide for comprehensive language utilised to effect policy best practice However, the laws in Mauritius and Seychelles do not have specific provisions on consumer protection online. The Law in Seychelles do not have specific provisions admissibility of electronic evidence

 Unlike other jurisdictions under SADC

Member States, The Republic of South Africa and Zambia have clearly addressed consumer or customer protection provisions of a cooling off period within which consumers may withdraw the online contract without penalty The Republic of Namibia has the Draft Bill with provisions that recognizes key issues on e-transactions and e-commerce

BEST PRACTICES ON ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN SADC

The review of national legalisation from fifteen SADC Member

States has observed some divergences and similarities on the key issues related to electronic transactions and electronic commerce Some of these issues analysed include: Definition of key terms, E-signatures, E-contracts, Electronic-communications, E-evidence, consumer protection, Intermediaries and Telecommunications Providers While some few countries have legislation that address the above issues other courtiers do not have legislation. Additional, even the countries that were found having legislation on electronic transactions and e-commerce, have differently addressed key issues

Best practises that can be learnt from countries that have laws on e-transactions and e-Commerce

Countries: Republic of South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius

and Seychelles Legislation/Laws from the Republic of South Africa and Zambia can be used as best practises in the sense that all issues related to cyber security such as e-transaction, e-commerce, cyber crimes, data protection and consumer protection are all provided in one law. Definition key concepts elements: there are some unique definitions from other countries legislation that can be regarded as best practises

 e-government: While Republic of South Africa, Zambia and

Mauritius have the provision on e-government services, the Republic of Seychelles has used the word electronic governance which is wider than e-government. The legislation of Seychelles can be used as best practice by other countries. e-signature: Mauritius has the best provision of law on electronic signatures that any other country in the region. Zambia has unique provision on the use of advanced electronic signatures Consumer protection: The Republic of South Africa and Zambia have clearly addressed consumer E-contracts: Mauritius All elements of electronic contracts are best addressed . The Electronic Transaction Act, 2000 has gone further by providing for declaration of intent of parties in agreement under electronic environments.

SUMMARY CHART OF RESULTS OF THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS/Key Elements and Status

Country Legal effect of e- Legal transactions Contracts e-signatures Consumer protection Intermediaries Telecommunications Providers and

requirement Formation for the

validity of edocument Angola *Botswana DRC Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique *Namibia NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE GOOD NONE GOOD NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE GOOD NONE GOOD NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE GOOD NONE GOOD NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE GOOD NONE GOOD (FAIR) NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE POOR LIMITED GOOD/LIMITE D Seychelles S. Africa Swaziland Tanzania GOOD GOOD NONE NONE GOOD GOOD NONE NONE LIMITED GOOD NONE NONE GOOD GOOD/LIMIT NONE LIMITED POOR GOOD NONE LIMITED GOOD/LIMIED GOOD NONE GOOD NONE GOOD/LIMIT NONE NONE NONE NONE GOOD (FAIR) NONE GOOD/LIMITED

Conclusion
Assessment of laws have been made in 15
SADC Members States Only four Countries were found having specific Laws on e-transactions and ecommerce. These are Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa and Zambia Other Countries have Bills or developing cyber laws

THANK YOU: ADAM MAMBI