The main relevant pieces of legislation regarding surveillance are the Interception of Communications Act [Chapter 11:20] and the Postal and Telecommunications Act. The supposed principal purpose of these pieces of legislation is to give effect to various fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act, 2023, 4 including the right to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information.
Privacy and surveillance
Zimbabwe experiences internet degradation due to infrastructure issues
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) explained that the degradation of the internet was due to a fault on an undersea fibre optic cable in South Africa that is the backbone of internet connection to Zimbabwe.
MISA ZIMBABWE 2023 STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT (Now Available!!!)
The Police-Media Action Plan, among other action points, aims to improve the professional relations between the police and the media while curbing or reducing cases of media freedom violations involving law enforcement agents.
Internet degrade on the eve of elections
The throttling was reported on NetOne, Econet, TelOne and Liquid telecoms, potentially affecting millions of citizens who rely on the networks.
ACHPR Special Rapporteur engages Mnangagwa on ‘Patriot Bill’
In a letter to President Mnangagwa last week, the Commissioner advised that the proposed law will have the effect of curtailing the exercise of rights such as media freedom and freedom of expression, the right to privacy, access to information, freedom of conscience, political rights, freedom to demonstrate and petition, and freedom of assembly and association.
POTRAZ to investigate alleged third-party access to personal data
“We take this opportunity to assure MISA Zimbabwe in particular, and the public in general, that the Data Protection Authority (DPA) is on a trajectory to promote and enforce better protection of personal information in line with the mandate encapsulated under the Act.”
MISA Zimbabwe 2022 State of the Media Report (Now Available)
While Zimbabwe is commendably not among the African countries with jailed journalists, the country witnessed an upsurge in the number of cases involving the assaults of journalists at political gatherings/rallies, with some sustaining injuries for which they sought medical treatment.
The 2021 MISA Zimbabwe Annual report is now available!
Excerpt from the MISA Zimbabwe 2021 Annual Report
Concern over acquisition and use of surveillance tools in Zimbabwe
Chairperson Golden Maunganidze has written to the Parliament expressing concern over the acquisition, deployment and use of surveillance tools in the country, in the absence of adequate and clear data privacy legislation and mechanisms.
Right to privacy increasingly under threat in Zimbabwe
The right to privacy is very critical because it is an enabling right that allows for the exercise of media freedom and freedom of expression. It is in that context that the confidentiality of media sources is key and equally protected by the Constitution.