Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma in Harare
INFORMATION Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Dr Minister Tatenda Mavetera has said Government is committed to protecting the privacy of its citizens’ personal information.
Data privacy, sometimes also referred to as information privacy, is an area of data protection that concerns the proper handling of sensitive data including, notably, personal data, but also other confidential data, such as certain financial data and intellectual property data, to meet regulatory requirements as well as protecting the confidentiality and immutability of the data.
Addressing delegates during Data Privacy Week symposium in Harare yesterday, Dr Mavetera said Government has put in place a regulatory framework to safeguard the use and sharing of personal information.
“The Zimbabwean Government is committed to protecting the privacy of its citizens’ personal information. We recognise that data privacy is a fundamental human right according to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and we have put in place a regulatory framework to safeguard the use and sharing of personal information,” she said.
“This framework is outlined under the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07], which provides for the protection of personal information and the designation of a Regulatory Authority to oversee the protection of personal issues in Zimbabwe.”
Dr Mavetera said protecting data privacy is not just the responsibility of Government, but a shared a responsibility that requires a multisectoral approach for it to succeed.
“The use of personal data comes with a responsibility to ensure that it is used ethically and that the privacy of individuals is respected. All stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, and individuals, have a role to play in creating a culture of data privacy in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Dr Mavetera implored stakeholders and players in the ICT sector to play a role in creating a culture of data privacy in the country.
She the inaugural event is historic as it deepens the implementation of the Cyber and Data Protection Act.
Dr Mavetera said there is a need to work together to raise awareness about data privacy to develop and share best practices for data protection, and to ensure that laws and regulations keep pace with technological advancements.
“I am challenging data controllers in this first edition of this Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Data Privacy Symposium and those that did not manage to attend, that the second edition in 2025 should be packed with best practices being shared from your organisations on the measures you have taken to protect personal information that you are in control of,” she said.
“I look forward to more engagements and activities that will ensure the effective implementation of cyber and data protection because the right to privacy is a Constitutional imperative and we have to play our part as the stakeholders with that responsibility to ensure the lawful processing of personal information in our nation.”
The minister called on data controllers who are yet to comply with the Act and directives issued by POTRAZ to do so for them to have a functional data protection ecosystem.
“As we celebrate this first edition of Data Privacy Week under, I urge all stakeholders to prioritise data privacy in their operations and activities,” she said.
Dr Mavetera said as the economy continues to digitise towards Vision 2030, it is important to recognise that the protection of personal information is a matter of dignity, Constitutional imperative, trust and cooperation.
“Trust is a critical component in any thriving digital ecosystem and is essential for the growth of the digital economy. I encourage organisations to adopt best practices for data protection and to invest in the necessary infrastructure and human capital to ensure that personal information is secured,” she said.
The Data Privacy Week symposium held under the theme ‘Take Control of Your Data’ sought to raise awareness on data rights, obligations of controllers and the role of the data protection authority as part of commemoration of the Data Privacy Week 2024.
The Data Privacy Week is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the importance of data privacy.
The week-long programme seeks to shed light on how businesses collect, utilise and at times, exploit personal information hence promoting respect of individuals’ privacy and transparency in the handling of user data.
Among those who attended the event were ICT, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Beulah Chirume, POTRAZ director general Dr Gift Machengete, his deputy Mr Alfred Marisa, officials from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, representatives of telecommunication service providers, and banking institutions among others.
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