Online Reporter
Patience Ndlovu
THE government has stepped in to tackle the dark side of the digital world, rolling out a National Child Online Protection Policy aimed at shielding children from cyberbullies, predators, and harmful content.
The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services yesterday hosted a stakeholder engagement at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to validate the draft policy.
Chief Director in the ministry, Prince Sibanda, said government could no longer ignore the dangers faced by young people who spend most of their time online.
“Today’s children are born with gadgets in their hands. ICT brings countless benefits, but it also comes with dangers. This policy is a framework to protect innocent children who cannot yet make decisions for themselves,” he said.
The meeting brought together a wide cast of voices, from university students and schoolchildren to ICT experts and the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Victim Friendly Unit. The cross-section of participants reflects just how widespread online dangers have become.
The policy will focus on tackling cyberbullying, online exploitation, and exposure to explicit or harmful material that many children stumble upon while browsing.
Sibanda said the NUST engagement was part of a wider process that will include more workshops and consultations before the policy is officially rolled out. “This is not just paperwork—we want coordinated action across society to protect children from technology’s dark corners,” he added.
While many parents admit they struggle to monitor their children’s online activity, experts say the policy will provide a legal and institutional backbone for awareness campaigns, safer platforms, and stronger policing of digital crime.For a generation that lives and learns online, the policy could not come sooner.
With more than half of Zimbabwe’s internet users under the age of 25, stakeholders agree that keeping children safe online is now as urgent as road safety or public health.
The internet is here to stay—but so are the dangers, and children need a shield.
From playgrounds to PlayStations, the fight to keep kids safe has gone digital!
