Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is strengthening its legal framework to protect civilians, critical infrastructure, and humanitarian operations against cyber threats during armed conflicts, ensuring emerging technologies do not undermine international humanitarian law (IHL).
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Vimbai Nyemba, announced the measures during the Global Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law in Geneva, Switzerland, which concluded on 4 November.
Addressing a roundtable themed “Ensuring Technology Upholds Humanity and International Humanitarian Law”, Mrs Nyemba reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to ensuring digital technologies comply with international law.
She emphasised that technological advancements must uphold the core IHL principles of humanity, distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
Zimbabwe has reinforced its domestic legal framework through the Cyber and Data Protection Act to safeguard sensitive information and ensure accountability for data breaches.
Under Section 5 of the Act, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is designated as the Data Protection Authority. The legislation also protects sensitive health information under Section 12 and mandates that data security breaches be reported within 24 hours under Section 19.
Furthermore, the Government has established safeguards against the misuse of protected humanitarian emblems through Section 8 of the Geneva Conventions Act. Mrs Nyemba welcomed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) digital emblem initiative, which aims to protect medical facilities, humanitarian operations, and civilian digital infrastructure from cyberattacks during conflicts.
“Zimbabwe remains committed to ensuring that technological innovation advances humanity while safeguarding civilian populations during armed conflict,” Mrs Nyemba said.
She added that countries must strengthen domestic legal frameworks to address emerging digital threats, expressing Zimbabwe’s readiness to collaborate with the ICRC and international partners to build cybersecurity capacity.
Zimbabwe’s delegation to the two-day global dialogue, which ran from November 3-4, was led by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The conference focused on the Global Initiative to Galvanise Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
