Staff Reporter
The Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Tatenda Mavetera, has swiftly dismissed circulating media rumours suggesting that the Government intends to introduce mandatory licensing for WhatsApp group administrators, with potential fines of up to US$2 500 for non-compliance.
In a statement posted on her X account on 10 November 2024, Minister Mavetera clarified that such penalties would only apply to platforms or administrators who collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business purposes.
PII encompasses any data that can be used to identify individuals, including names, phone numbers, and identification numbers.
Minister Mavetera urged the public to disregard these false claims, emphasizing that they are inconsistent with Zimbabwe's current legal framework. She pointed specifically to the Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations, under Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of 2024.
“I want to categorically distance myself from the malicious fake news suggesting that the Government plans to license or penalize WhatsApp groups or their administrators with fines of up to USD 2 500,” she stated in her post.
The Minister further underscored that these regulations are aimed at safeguarding individuals' privacy, particularly when personal data is collected for business or commercial purposes.
Everyday social media users and group administrators who do not engage in such practices are not the target of these regulations.
In a social media post, Minister Mavetera reiterated her stance.
“At no point did I express any intentions to license or penalize WhatsApp groups or administrators of social media platforms that do not collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business purposes,” said Mavetera.
The public has been urged to seek accurate information from official sources and to ignore baseless rumours that have caused undue alarm.
Minister Mavetera reassured citizens of the Government’s commitment to bolstering cybersecurity and data protection, while ensuring that digital platforms remain safe and accessible for all Zimbabweans.
