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Information Communications Technology, Postal, and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has distanced herself from a statement posted on her LinkedIn page, which claimed that WhatsApp group administrators would be required to obtain government licenses.
The statement, which went viral last week, outlined that WhatsApp group administrators would need to secure licenses and appoint data protection officers. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The time is ticking for organisations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence and the licence fees range from US$50 to US$2500.
Furthermore, a data protection officer (DPO) who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ.
Even churches that collect personal data ought to have such a licensee and appoint a DPO. WhatsApp group admins are not spared too, if your groups are meant for business, you should as well get a licence. Failure to comply attracts penalties.
</blockquote>
However, in a post on X on Saturday, Mavetera labelled the viral LinkedIn post as “malicious fake news,” saying this requirement is not applicable to players who do not collect and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for commercial or business use. Wrote Mavetera:
<blockquote>
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 the 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.
</blockquote>
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono then asked Mavetera whether she was implying that the LinkedIn account which posted the controversial statement did not belong to her. In response, Mavetera said:
<blockquote>
Read today’s post. Please read SI 155 of 2024. If you have any questions I will do a presser when I’m back in Zimbabwe. Just in case more clarity is sought.
</blockquote>
Chin’ono expressed dissatisfaction with the response, suggesting that Mavetera should have a professional communications officer to ensure that policy matters are communicated clearly and accurately. He wrote:
<blockquote>
So don’t say it was a false claim; you said it, but you are now coming back with clarification. 
When you say it was false, you insinuate that the media lied when, in fact, it was you who put out the wrong information.
My advice is to have a professional communications officer; they are trained for that kind of work.
You can’t be walking back on your statements when you are a cabinet minister. 
It embarrasses the government, the country, and the person who appointed you.
You should have said, “I am sorry, I got things wrong, this is the true position.”
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Minister of ICT said WhatsApp group admins needed licenses, but then said it's fake. WhatsApp groups don't need licenses, only if they collect personal data for business. If an admin shares misinformation, they should clarify. The Minister should have clear communication.

Mavetera Backtracks On WhatsApp Group Licensing Policy, Calls Her Statement "Malicious Fake News"

A local Information Technology (IT) expert has criticised Zimbabwe’s new policy requiring WhatsApp group administrators to obtain licenses and appoint data protection officers, describing it as misguided and overly broad.
The licensing scheme, introduced by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), was presented during a recent breakfast meeting hosted by the authority.
Under the new policy, WhatsApp group administrators will be required to pay fees ranging from US$50 to US$2,500, depending on the type of group they manage.
The government has justified the policy, stating that its primary goal is to enhance data security and privacy for all citizens.
However, critics argue that the policy could create unnecessary hurdles for group administrators and hinder free communication on the platform.
Information Communications Technology, Postal, and Courier Services Minister, Tatenda Mavetera, defended the initiative in a recent LinkedIn post, saying:
<blockquote>
The time is ticking for organisations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence and the licence fees range from US$50 to US$2500.
Furthermore, a data protection officer (DPO) who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ.
Even churches that collect personal data ought to have such a licensee and appoint a DPO. WhatsApp group admins are not spared too, if your groups are meant for business, you should as well get a licence. Failure to comply attracts penalties.
</blockquote>
The policy is based on Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act, which defines personal data as any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.
Given that WhatsApp group administrators have access to members’ phone numbers, the government argues that these groups should fall under the scope of data protection regulations.
However, IT expert Christopher Musodza contends that the government’s approach is misguided and lacks clarity. Said Musodza (via <a href="https://cite.org.zw/tech-expert-calls-out-misguided-whatsapp-licensing-policy/">CITE</a>):
<blockquote>
If we go by what she said, then it is very sad for Zimbabwe to treat WhatsApp group administrators, or WhatsApp group platforms and churches broadly like that.
You can’t put everyone in the same bracket. You can’t say a telecommunication provider that has all the data that they store.
And also talk in the same vein even the hospitals that have sensitive information like people’s health records and including churches in that category it would not make sense. So we need to have those regulations in place first.
</blockquote>
Musodza argued that the definitions within the Cyber and Data Protection Act are too broad, which he believes creates significant ambiguity and poses practical challenges. He said:
<blockquote>
The definitions in our Cyber and Data Protection Act are broad when it comes to data processors and data controllers.
The definition can indeed stretch to anyone who collects data. Be it for a workshop, data attendance register, be it a church, be it any organisation can fit into that definition.
I had hoped that POTRAZ as the data protection authority as a statutory designated data protection authority would set out guidelines or standards in terms of who fits into that category.
This is in terms of numbers, capacity or type of business. It is not practical for you to have a law that includes everyone.
In other countries or jurisdictions, they would have guidelines to say such and such organisation or such many records and so forth is required to have data protection officer and also required to be licenced by the data protection authority who is POTRAZ in our case.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A tech expert in Zimbabwe thinks the new law for WhatsApp group admins is not a good idea. The law requires admins to get licenses and appoint data protection officers. The fees for licenses can be from $50 to $2,500. People argue that this law could make it harder for admins to run their groups freely. The government says the law is to protect people's data. But the expert says the law is too broad and doesn't make sense. He thinks the rules should be clearer and not affect everyone the same way.

IT Expert Slams Zimbabwe’s New WhatsApp Group Licensing Policy

Zimbabwe’s Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) now mandates that administrators of WhatsApp groups within the country must secure a license to operate.
The licensing fees vary from $50 to US$2,500, depending on the nature of the WhatsApp group, as part of a new regulatory framework introduced by POTRAZ.
The government has justified this move as necessary for strengthening data security and privacy protections for Zimbabwean citizens.
Information Communications Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera confirmed that all WhatsApp group administrators will soon be required to register with POTRAZ and obtain an official license.
In addition to the licensing requirement, administrators must also appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), who must be trained and certified by POTRAZ to ensure compliance with Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act.
Mavetera said the move is aimed at enforcing the Data Protection Act, which governs the handling of personal data, including phone numbers shared within WhatsApp groups.
The new requirements will impact not just businesses, but also community organizations, churches, and any other groups that collect and manage personal data through WhatsApp. Said Mavetera:
<blockquote>
The time is ticking for organisations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence and the license fees range from $50 to $2500.
Furthermore, a data protection officer(DPO) who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ.
Even churches that collect personal data ought to have such a licence and appoint a DPO.
Whatsapp group admins are not spared too, if your groups are meant for business, you should as well obtain a licence. Failure to comply attracts penalties.
</blockquote>
The fees are structured in four tiers:
Tier 1: For groups with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 1,000 people, the annual fee is $50, with no application fee.
Tier 2: For groups with 1,001 to 100,000 people, the annual fee is $300, and an application fee of $30 applies.
Tier 3: For groups with 100,001 to 500,000 people, the annual fee is $500, with a $30 application fee.
Tier 4: For groups with more than 500,000 people, the annual fee is $2,500, with a $30 application fee.
The law right now says “personal, family or household affairs” are exempt from licensing. 
Also exempt are law enforcement and journalistic, historical or archival purposes.
Responding to Mavetera, Chipo Sibongile Mapungwana, said the regulations will further impoverish Zimbabweans. She wrote:
<blockquote>
Good day, Minister. Zimbabwe people are getting more and more impoverished. How does your Ministry justify licensing WhatsApp groups that are meant to keep family members in the loop and business people, staff members etc communicating with each other or clubs and churches sending messages to their members?
We are the worst-taxed nation in the region, and your Ministry and POTRAZ want to add Whatsapp group fees to overburdened citizens.
In what other country are WhatsApp group made to pay a license?
This is not a Citizen friendly regulation and it will just anger people against your Ministry and POTRAZ…
It seems that the ICT Ministry and POTRAZ want to make billions of dollars yearly from poor Zimbabweans.
We are taxed by the Ministry of Finance for every transaction we make, we are taxed by shops, we pay exorbitant data fees, and Vehicle and ZBC licences and taxed by ZIMRA.
Now your Ministry wants to make us pay for WhatsApp Groups?
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

WhatsApp group admins in Zimbabwe now need a license to operate. The government says it will help protect people's data and privacy. The fees for the license depend on the size of the group, ranging from $50 to $2,500. Administrators also need to appoint a Data Protection Officer who is trained by POTRAZ. Businesses, community organizations, and churches must comply with these new rules. The fees are structured in tiers based on the number of people in the group. Some activities like personal or family affairs are exempt. However, some people believe these regulations will make life harder for Zimbabweans.

WhatsApp Group Admins Now Require Data Protection Licence In Zimbabwe

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