By Godfrey M Bonda
The Secretary in the Ministry of Information Communication Technology , Post and Courier Services (ICT) Dr Beaullah Chirume has stated that the Zimbabwe digital space is secure.
Dr Chirume was speaking at the sensitization workshop on the Cyber and Data Protection Act for government departments and agencies in Harare yesterday.
She highlighted that the Cyber and Data Protection Act is set to build confidence and trust in citizens.
” SADC model law is set to be implemented with our own data protection Act”, she shared.
She added that, the Ministry of ICT and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) are there to strengthen the national data protection framework.
“The citizens trust is threatened by privacy violations which undermine national security and public confidence”, she added.
Chirume highlighted that the Zimbabwe digital economy is secure.
“Through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) the e -government and e- commerce depend on how we enforce data protection services”, she said.
It was also shared that government instutions should train data protection officers and agencies.
“Zimbabweans should foster a culture of cyber security awareness”, said Dr Chirume.
Dr Chirume also highlighted that cyber criminals are now using advanced techniques in Government, financial institutions and business across the world.
” No institution is immune to this “, she added.
Dr Chirume stated that the Cyber and Data Protection Act should not just be a document but a everyday living testimony.
“Let us comply with Global Data Protection and together we can defend our cyber space , data ,institution and people of Zimbabwe “, shared Dr Chirume.
The Director of Data Protection at POTRAZ, Ms Tsitsi Mariwo also stated that prior to December 2021 there was absence of the data protection law.
” There were challenges with cross border data transfer whereby there was absence of supervisory authorities.
“Controllers were not hold accountable”, she added.
She added that in 2018 Botswana regarded Zimbabwe as a country with no Data Protection Law.
” Section 6 of POTRAZ allow us to collaborate with other data protection agencies”, said Director Mariwo.
She stated that a glance of Data Protection Framework in the SADC region is 80 percent and in Africa it’s 60 percent.
” 34 African countries adopted the legislation on Data Protection including 12 SADC countries”, she added.
Director Mariwo also highlighted that Section 51 and 57 of the Zimbabwe constitution provides rights to privacy and dignity.
