Data Protection in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This chapter discusses Zimbabwe’s data protection regime within the context of historical and current socio-economic and political conditions. It also considers societal expectations which place a premium on the protection of personal information as a core human right. This context explains societal concerns about the vulnerability of personal information due to surveillance and monitoring by law enforcement and national security organs. In addition, criminal activity, largely for commercial gain, also compromises personal information. Therefore, the societal context is one of mistrust of data processing, compounded by actual experiences of the compromise of data. This perceived and experienced vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that there is a general lack of knowledge about existing legal protection of privacy. The legislative framework does little to assuage this vulnerability because it is currently inadequate.