By Tendai Guvamombe
Harare – The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has dismissed as false, claims circulating on social media that WhatsApp group administrators face a USD 2500 penalty.
In a statement, Minister Tatenda Mavetera described the claims as malicious and misleading, urging the public to disregard them.
“The government has no intention of licensing or penalizing WhatsApp groups or administrators of any social media platforms that do not collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use,” Minister Mavetera clarified.
The Minister emphasized that the claims contradict Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Regulations, specifically Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of 2024.
“The government is committed to promoting access to information for all in a safe and secure environment, as enshrined in the constitution,” Minister Mavetera reassured.
He reiterated the ministry’s focus on accelerating cyber and data democratization and security, ensuring “No One and No Place is Left Offline.”
Full Statement by Hon Tatenda Mavetera
False claim of USD 2500 penalties for WhatsApp Group Administrators
I would like distance myself from the malicious fake news of intentions by government to licence or penalise WhatsApp Groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s USD 2500.
This claim is not applicable especially to players who do not collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use.
Personally identifiable information (PII) is any type of data that can be used to identify someone, from their name and address to their phone number, passport information and I.d number.
The public is encouraged to disregard this notice with the uttermost discontent it deserves as it is inconsistent with our legal provisions as espoused in
Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection (Licencing of Data controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations.
On my LinkedIn post I never expressed any intentions to licence or penalise WhatsApp groups or Administrators of any social media platform/s which do not collect and process (Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use.
I wish to assure the public of government’s commitment through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology Postal and Courier Services to accelerate cyber and data democratisation and security to ensure that No One and No Place is Left Offline.
This is in line with our overarching mandate to the constitution to promote access to information for all in a safe and secure environment.
