Story by Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE has reaffirmed its commitment to building a secure, innovation-driven digital economy anchored on strong data protection systems, as Government intensifies efforts to strengthen privacy frameworks and boost public trust in digital services.
This emerged at the Third National Data Privacy Symposium held in Bulawayo, where stakeholders from across Africa, including regulators, policymakers, and ICT experts, gathered under the theme “Privacy as the Default: A Foundation for Trust and Innovation in a Digitally Enabled Economy.”
Opening the symposium, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services said privacy must no longer be treated as an optional safeguard, but as a core design principle in all digital systems.
“This gathering is not just a meeting; it is a historic moment where Zimbabwe’s bright minds converge to chart a dynamic way forward towards national development,” said the Minister.
He emphasised that digital transformation cannot succeed without trust, warning that data protection failures undermine both innovation and economic growth.
“Without privacy by design, there is no true consent. Without consent, there is no trust. And without trust, Zimbabwe, SADC and the entire continent cannot build the digital economies we urgently need,” he said.
The Minister likened unprotected data systems to personal vulnerability in a public space, arguing that citizens must be protected by default rather than by reaction after breaches occur.
“Privacy has become an afterthought rather than the lock on the satchel. Systems must automatically protect people. Trust must be built into technology,” he said.
He underscored that privacy is enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is central to sustainable digital development.
“We believe that people have a fundamental right to privacy. For our digital economy to thrive, this right must be the bedrock upon which all systems are built,” he said.
The symposium also heard that Zimbabwe is strengthening its data protection architecture through the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07], with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) playing a central regulatory role.
The Minister said key milestones include licensing frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, awareness campaigns, and certification of Data Protection Officers, with 215 professionals recently certified, bringing the total to 1 070.
“This is not merely a statistic; it is a clear demonstration that Zimbabwe is steadily building the human capital required to sustain a trusted digital economy,” he said.
Regional regulators from Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo also participated, reflecting growing continental cooperation on data governance.
Zimbabwe was further recognised within SADC as a potential lead country in data protection capacity building, a development Government says aligns with broader regional integration goals.
The Minister also highlighted the intersection between data protection and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, noting that innovation must be guided by ethics and accountability.
“Privacy is not the enemy of innovation; it is its enabler. When privacy is designed by default, it enhances data quality, builds confidence and creates a stable environment for innovation,” he said.
Government says it will continue to promote a “privacy-first” approach across both public and private sectors as part of efforts to build a secure, inclusive and digitally enabled economy.
