Minister Mavetera Issues Stark Digital Warning

Zimbabwe must place data privacy at the centre of its digital transformation if it is to build trust, grow innovation and unlock the full potential of its digital economy, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera said.

Addressing delegates at the Third National Data Privacy Symposium held in Bulawayo on Wednesday, the Minister warned that failure to prioritise privacy could undermine public confidence in digital systems.

“Without privacy by design, there is no true consent. Without consent, there is no trust. And without trust, we cannot build the digital economy we so urgently need,” Minister Mavetera said.

The symposium, hosted by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), drew participants from across government, regional regulators and the private sector, reflecting growing interest in data protection both locally and across the region.

Trust Key to Digital Growth

The Minister said Zimbabwe’s push towards a digital economy,driven by mobile money, e-government services and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,depends heavily on public trust.

“Can a digitised economy thrive without trust? The answer is no,” Mavetera said, describing trust as a critical driver of investment and adoption of digital services.

He added that privacy should no longer be treated as an afterthought but must be built into systems from the start.

“Privacy is not the enemy of innovation; it is its enabler,” she said.

Zim Building Data Protection Capacity

Zimbabwe has already taken steps to strengthen its data protection framework through the Cyber and Data Protection Act, with POTRAZ designated as the country’s Data Protection Authority.

Minister Mavetera said progress is also being made in building local expertise, revealing that over 1,000 Data Protection Officers have now been trained and certified.

“This shows that Zimbabwe is steadily building the human capital needed to sustain a trusted digital economy,” she said.

Regional Role and Cooperation

Zimbabwe is increasingly positioning itself as a regional player in data governance, with SADC partners identifying the country to help lead capacity-building efforts.

“Data knows no borders, and neither should our solutions,” the Minister said, calling for closer cooperation among African countries on data protection laws and standards.

AI and Data Risks

The Minister also linked privacy to Zimbabwe’s emerging Artificial Intelligence strategy, warning that weak data governance could expose citizens to risks such as profiling, bias and misuse of personal information.

He said innovation must be balanced with strong safeguards.

“Innovation must be ethical, accountable and respectful of human dignity, with privacy as its foundation,” she said.

The government, as one of the largest collectors of citizen data, must lead by example, the Minister added.

“Privacy should be embedded across all ministries and departments, not treated as a box-ticking exercise,” she said.

He urged regulators, businesses and institutions to adopt a privacy-first approach to ensure Zimbabwe builds a secure and inclusive digital economy.