Bulawayo, (New Ziana) –The Zimbabwe government has called for a fundamental rethink in the design of digital systems, urging stakeholders to adopt privacy as the default setting to strengthen public trust and unlock innovation in the digital economy.
Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera said this on Wednesday while addressing delegates at the Third National Data Privacy Symposium held in the second largest city.
The symposium, which the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe(POTRAZ) organised, is being held under the theme “Privacy as the Default: A Foundation for Trust and Innovation in a Digitally Enabled Economy”, and has brought together policymakers, regulators, and innovators to shape the digital future of the country.
“Privacy has become an afterthought, a box to be ticked, rather than the lock on the satchel. Without privacy by design, there is no true consent. Without consent, there is no trust. Also without trust, Zimbabwe, SADC, and our entire continent cannot build the digital economies we so urgently need,” said Mavetera.
She commended POTRAZ for elevating the event into a continental forum, reflecting the growth of Africa’s data protection ecosystem.
“Let us not speak today of privacy as a barrier to progress. Let us speak of it as the very foundation upon which progress must be built. Privacy is not the enemy of innovation, it is its enabler,” she explained.
Mavetera said as the country accelerates digital transformation—driven by mobile financial services, Artificial Intelligence and cloud computing, the risks associated with data misuse, are also increasing.
“This raises a crucial question, Can a digitised economy thrive without trust? The answer is no! Trust is a vital economic asset that fosters adoption, investment and sustainability,” she said.
She reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening data protection through the Cyber and Data Protection Act, describing it as central to safeguarding personal information and promoting accountability.
“Zimbabwe is prioritising privacy in its digital transformation through the Cyber and Data Protection Act, which safeguards personal information, regulates data handlers and fosters accountability,” she said.
The is emerging as a regional leader in data protection capacity building, with over 1 000 Data Protection Officers now certified, she said.
“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,” she said, adding the growing number of trained professionals would ensure that privacy is embedded across institutions.
“These certified professionals are the frontline custodians of privacy compliance, institutional accountability, and responsible data governance across both the public and private sectors,” she said.
Mavetera noted that the country has been nominated by regional partners as a torchbearer in data protection capacity development.
She outlined key priorities, including strengthening the mandate of data protection authorities, promoting cross-border cooperation, enhancing digital literacy, and creating innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks.
Explaining the importance of ethical governance in emerging technologies such as AI, Mavetera said the country’s approach mandates that innovation be ethical, accountable, and respectful of human dignity, with privacy as the foundation, and urged government institutions to lead by example in protecting citizen data.
“The government, as a major collector of personal data, must uphold the trust citizens place in it regarding their identity, health, and security,” she said.
“Privacy is delivered not by technology alone, but by people. I urge institutions to view privacy expertise as a strategic investment rather than just a regulatory requirement,” she said.
New Ziana
