Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE has surpassed a major milestone in its digital transformation drive, producing more than 870 certified Data Protection Officers under a flagship programme jointly run by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe and the Harare Institute of Technology.
At the latest graduation ceremony held in Harare on Wednesday, 170 students were certified, joining the growing ranks of data professionals tasked with safeguarding the nation’s digital privacy.
POTRAZ director-general Dr Gift Machengete described data as the new gold and said there was need to secure it against abuse.
“Unlike gold locked safely in a vault, data often lies scattered in the open, vulnerable to those who would exploit it. Just as walls give us safety and dignity in our homes, data protection gives us safety and dignity in the digital world,” Dr Machengete said.
He said what began as a small programme in 2024 with 30 students had grown into a regional model, attracting participants from Malawi, Eswatini and Botswana, with SADC recently inviting POTRAZ to showcase the initiative.
HIT Vice Chancellor Prof Quinton Kanhukamwe hailed the partnership as a breakthrough in aligning academia with industry.
“As data protection officers, you are not just compliance officers,” he said.
“You are the guardians of digital trust, the ones who stand between innovation and exploitation, between efficiency and intrusion. Without trust, no digital revolution can succeed.”
Graduates also reflected on the significance of the training.
Ms Ruth Chibwe of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said the course was eye-opening.
“As the new global currency, there is no business anywhere in the world that can be transacted without the use of data,” she said.
“Yet, personal data poses serious risks to fundamental rights. This training has opened a whole new universe of opportunities for us.”
Another graduate, Mr Gwinyai Mabika encouraged his peers to carry forward both the technical knowledge and the human connections built during the course.
Commissioner Martin Maduva from the Zimbabwe Human Right Commission said in line with their mandate to promote and protect human rights, they recognise data protection as pivotal in upholding dignity and privacy in the digital era.
