By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and empowering digital environment for children, as the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services pushes for legislation to complement the Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy (2026–2030).
The policy establishes a national framework for protecting children in digital spaces and seeks to strengthen their safety and welfare by addressing emerging threats, including cyberbullying, online exploitation, digital grooming, sextortion, privacy violations and exposure to harmful content.
Speaking at a workshop in Harare on Thursday to unpack the policy, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Beula Chirume, said the Government’s continued investment in digital connectivity had also increased the risks faced by children online.
According to data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), internet penetration has reached 87.39 percent, while broadband penetration stands at 85.83 percent and mobile penetration has surpassed 108.53 percent.
“This progress is something we are proud of. But progress carries responsibility with it, particularly as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how our children learn, play and interact online. Behind these figures are children going online for education, play and connection with their peers, inheriting both the promise of this digital economy and its risks.
“Cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse, harmful content, and misuse of their data. Globally, over 300 million children are victimised online every year, and Zimbabwe’s children are not exempt. Government has a duty to respond with equal seriousness,” Chirume said.
She said the Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy (2026–2030), which was launched in Bulawayo by Vice President Kembo Mohadi on July 10 this year, represents the country’s first national framework dedicated specifically to safeguarding children in the digital environment.
“The framework ensures that children continue to benefit from the opportunities presented by information and communication technologies (ICTs) and is expected to guide government agencies, technology companies, schools, parents and civil society organisations in responding to online threats facing children.”
Chirume said the workshop was intended to move the country from policy development to implementation by translating the policy’s nine strategic focus areas into practical and coordinated interventions.
The focus areas cover institutional strengthening, legislation, prevention and response, education, public awareness, corporate responsibility, research, cooperation, and monitoring and evaluation.
The Government’s push for supporting legislation is expected to provide a stronger legal foundation for implementing the policy and ensuring that institutions and other stakeholders can respond effectively to threats affecting children online.
The policy comes at a time when children are increasingly accessing the internet through smartphones, social media platforms and digital learning tools, creating both opportunities for education and communication and new avenues for abuse and exploitation.
The International Telecommunication Union has identified child online protection as a global policy priority, while the African Union has urged governments to strengthen child online safety frameworks, raise public awareness, enhance law enforcement capacity and promote international cooperation to combat digital threats.
New Ziana
