The Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe: A critical analysis

 Blessing Mutiro
 LLBS (University of Zimbabwe) LLM (University of Birmingham)
 Early-Stage Researcher, Castlebridge, Dublin; PhD Researcher, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 The author has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 813497.

 Otto Saki
 LLBS (University of Zimbabwe) LLM (Columbia University) LLM ( Open University Tanzania)
 Doctoral candidate, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 The authors acknowledge the editorial support and attention to detail that Mr Mduduzi Ruwitah provided in preparing this article. The authors are grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for their comments. All errors are those of the authors.

 Edition: AJPDP Volume 1 2024
 Pages: 50 - 80
 Citation: B Mutiro & O Saki ‘Th e Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe: A critical analysis’ (2024) 1 African Journal on Privacy & Data Protection 50-80
 https://doi.org/10.29053/ajpdp.v1i1.0004
 Download article in PDF

Abstract

The Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe is the first comprehensive data protection statute covering both the public and private sectors and setting up a data protection authority. Its provisions are vital to the protection of the fundamental human right to privacy. This is in the context of the government prioritising cybersecurity over privacy, with the private sector being complicit. This context of cybersecurity over privacy is seen through the government’s intention in passing the Act of which the provisions focus more on cybersecurity rather than on data protection. Against this background, this study evaluates the Cyber and Data Protection Act to establish whether its provisions are adequate to protect and ensure privacy and data protection despite the cybersecurity intention and focus. The study examines the Zimbabwean data protection regime from a customary law, common law and international law perspective, comparing the Act against European Union-style legislation that has inspired and is the bedrock of the Act. This is a study of what has been enacted, and what may have been enacted in Zimbabwe.

Key words: data privacy; data protection; personal information; cybersecurity

1 Introduction

On 3 December 2021 the Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDPA)1 of Zimbabwe became law.2 The object of the Act is ‘to increase cyber security in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information and communication technologies by data controllers, their representatives and data subjects’.3 Before the CDPA, there was no Zimbabwean law governing data protection following the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA)4 that only applied to public entities. A literal reading of the CDPA objectives indicates the government’s intent to invest in cybersecurity, not data protection. CDPA comes at a time when there has been misuse of personal data by public and private entities.5 Concurrently, the government has increased surveillance on citizens using artificial intelligence.6

The CDPA enactment benefits from the global and continental discussions on data protection spurred by developments in the European Union (EU) through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention). The GDPR is viewed as having considerably influenced African data protection frameworks, with disastrous impact.7 The Malabo Convention, which entered in force on 8 June 2023, attempts to frame an African approach to data protection, albeit with limitations.8 In addition, the Council for Europe has modernised Convention 108 on data processing (Convention 108+),9 which is open to non-European countries for membership. Zimbabwe has not been invited to accede to Convention 108+ and has not ratified the Malabo Convention. Several judicial and legislative developments also affect data protection. Considering these developments, this article continues by studying the resonance of CDPA with African multinational data protection agreements and international standards. It also provides a critical analysis of general protections of personal data in Zimbabwe.

Through a doctrinal assessment of the main features and provisions of the CDPA, the article focuses on what has been enacted and what may have been enacted. The article also discusses data protection under common and customary law. It then discusses international privacy and data protection standards and commitments. This is followed by a historical background to data protection in Zimbabwe. An overview and discussion of the obligations, main components, and rights in CDPA follows. The discussion is alongside a critique of CDPA, and recommendations to improve the Act’s utility in the protection of personal information.10

2 Data protection under common law and customary law

Zimbabwe has a dual legal system of general law consisting of common law and statute, and African customary law.11 According to section 192 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the law to be administered by the courts is the law in force on the ‘effective date’,12 being the date on which the Constitution became law.13 According to section 89 of the Constitution,14 the applicable law is the ‘law in force in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope on 10 June 1891, as modified by subsequent legislation having in Zimbabwe the force of law’.15 The law applicable at the Cape of Good Hope on 10 June 1891 was Roman-Dutch law with English law grafting.

The right to protection of personal data is novel. There is no common law right to data protection within Roman-Dutch law. A right to privacy, however, exists. Zimbabwe’s common law right to privacy derives from the common law of South Africa.16 It is worth considering whether the common law right to privacy applies to data protection given the overlap between the right to private life, a pillar of the right to privacy, and the right to protection of personal data.17 A claim for a right to privacy under common law is related to personality.18 When the right to privacy is violated, there are four main remedies,19 namely, the actio iniuriarum, which is the recovery of sentimental damages or satisfaction for injured feelings; the actio legis Acquiliae, where the plaintiff has suffered monetary loss; an interdict where there is impending or continuous infringement;20 and a retraction coupled with an apology.21 The applicability of the common law right of privacy to data protection is questionable. Ncube argues that the active control principles of data protection differ from common law privacy protections, making common law privacy protections inadequate for purposes of data protection.22 Further, for a common law right to privacy to apply to data protection, a two-point process must be undertaken. The first is full utilisation of the common law, and the second is an individual controlling the data. If the individual is not in control of the data, it is unlikely that the common law right to privacy applies. Examples of where the common law right to privacy would apply to data protection are where photographs are taken23 and telephones are tapped without the subject’s consent.24 In these examples, Zimbabwean courts can extend the common law right to privacy to data protection. However, they have been reluctant to give the common law right to privacy an expansive interpretation.25 Although Nsoro26 shows a shift towards an expansive interpretation as the Court held that society ought to respect privacy of communications,27 it is unlikely that a common law right to privacy applies to data protection.

The concept of data protection in Zimbabwe was first introduced by AIPPA and, subsequently, the CDPA. There is no prior Zimbabwean case law on customary law and on data protection. Similarly, the existence of a right to privacy in Zimbabwe’s customary law is doubtful as privacy is an abstract concept in traditional African societies.28 An individual’s personhood is intricately linked with their community, as aptly defined by concepts such as ubuntu.29 The identity of the individual is based on them being a member of the community, which is the custodian of the individual’s rights.30 It thus is difficult for an individualistic right to privacy to thrive. The communitarian environment, however, provides a framework for relational or group privacy.31 It therefore is unlikely that there exists an African customary law right to privacy useable to assert personal data protection.

3 International privacy and data protection standards and commitments

Zimbabwe’s international privacy commitments stem mainly from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration)32 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).33 The right to privacy is also to be found in article 10 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter).34 These instruments inspired the right to privacy in most African countries under post-independence constitutions.35 Zimbabwe’s first post-independence Constitution, however, lacked an explicit right to privacy.36

African data protection standards have been influenced by developments in the EU.37 These include the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (Convention 108)38 and the Data Protection Directive.39 Convention 108 allows non-Council of Europe members to accede to it. Some African countries have ratified the Convention and its additional protocol.40 The Convention was recently modernised into Convention 108+. Zimbabwe has neither signed nor ratified either convention. Data protection standards of Convention 108, the additional protocol and the Data Protection Directive in Africa are seen continentally and regionally. Continentally, the standards are reflected in the Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection Convention (Malabo Convention) of the African Union (AU).41 The Malabo Convention establishes regulatory regimes of cybersecurity, electronic transactions and data protection. It harmonises data protection frameworks in AU states, prioritises free movement of data, and ensures the protection of privacy.42 Zimbabwe is not a signatory to the Malabo Convention. Regionally, the standards are reflected in the Southern Africa Development Community Data Protection (SADC) Model Law.43 The Model Law is not binding but may be used by SADC states to develop their data protection legislation.

Since the SADC Model Law, there have been developments within the EU with global implications. These are the replacement of Convention 108 with Convention 108+ and GDPR. GDPR is a global benchmark for data protection law44 and enjoys extraterritorial application.45 This obliges compliance with the GDPR if African countries engage with digital users in the EU. Countries such as Zimbabwe can comply by either adopting laws and regulations aligned with GDPR or adopting of GDPR-compliant procedures by entities operating in Zimbabwe.46 The global implications of the GDPR, therefore, cannot be ignored. This influence, however, disregards the unique socio-economic and cultural realities in Africa.47 The influence of standards developed because of EU legislation in Zimbabwe’s data protection Act is presented in Table 1 below. This is done by comparing the standards and provisions of CDPA against the SADC Model law, the Malabo Convention and GDPR. The criteria of the standards used in the comparison stem from the categorisation of them into three levels developed by Greenleaf and Cottier.

Table 1 – Comparison of CDPA against data protection standards48

The Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) imposes additional data protection obligations on Zimbabwe. According to article 15 of the Protocol on trade in services, member states can enforce and adopt measures ‘necessary to secure compliance with law or regulations that are not inconsistent’ with the protocol.49 This includes protection of the privacy of individuals, ‘in relation to the processing and dissemination of personal data and the protection of confidentiality of individuals’ records and accounts’.50 The import of article 15 is that members can adopt their own data protection laws if such laws are consistent with the provisions of AfCFTA.51 The extent of influence of AfCFTA is limited as it remains to be seen how consistency with AfCFTA will be maintained as each member adopts its data protection laws.

4 The Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe

4.1 Historical background

CDPA succeeds AIPPA which was Zimbabwe’s first data protection legislation. It follows the government’s drive to create a technology-driven business environment and encourage technological development while ensuring that technology is used lawfully.52 The Act targets issues of data protection concerning the Declaration of Rights under the Constitution. It also extends to cyber-related offences, establishing a Cyber Security Centre and a Data Protection Authority and to provide for their functions. The Act further provides for the investigation and collection of evidence of cybercrime and unauthorised data collection and breaches, and for admissibility of electronic evidence for such offences.53 Before presidential assent, CDPA was criticised for neglecting human rights in regulating personal data protection and being below the minimum standards of modern data protection law.54 Nonetheless, CDPA constitutes a significant improvement from AIPPA.

AIPPA only applied to public institutions with data processing by private, natural and juristic persons unprotected. Individuals lacked rights associated with data protection legislation against private persons. AIPPA also only provided for a right to correction.55 AIPPA was unsuitable as a regulatory framework for data protection.56 CDPA, thus, is an attempt to fix the shortcomings of AIPPA while ensuring that Zimbabwe satisfies the minimum threshold of data protection and also ensure the transfer of data from other nations to the country. Nonetheless, CDPA contains pitfalls that may undermine the protection of personal data.

4.2 Definitions

This part considers the key terms in the Act whose interpretation is crucial to the protection of the rights of data subjects.

4.2.1 Personal information

Personal information is at the core of CDPA. However, the term as defined fails the comprehensibility test, which entails not only the language used to make an act understandable but its readability. It is broken down into three definitions, namely, ‘personal information’, ‘data subject’ and ‘identifiable person’. ‘Personal information’ is defined as ‘information relating to a data subject’.57 A ‘data subject’ is defined as ‘an individual who is an identifiable person and the subject of data’. An ‘identifiable person’ is defined as a person who can be identified directly or indirectly in particular reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his or her physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity.58 Personal information, therefore, is any information relating to an identified or identifiable person who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier, which includes an identification number.

CDPA applies only to natural persons. Only natural persons are addressed using gender pronouns and have specific physical, physiological, mental and cultural identities. A key phrase from the definition formulated by this article is ‘information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person’. A person is identifiable if one considers all the means reasonably likely to be used by a controller or other person to identify the natural person directly or indirectly.59 Information, therefore, will not relate to an individual where a disproportionate effort is required to identify the individual. The concept of personal data, however, now is more dynamic. Without additional effort, anonymised data remains non-personal data, but the economic and technological trends portend for less of a distinction.60

4.2.2 Data

The CDPA defines data as

any representation of facts, concepts, information, whether in text, audio, video, images, machine-readable code or instructions, in a form suitable for communications, interpretation or processing in a computer device, computer system, database, electronic communications network or related devices and includes a computer programme and traffic data.61

This creates ambiguity about the scope of CDPA. Section 4 resolves this quandary by providing that CDPA applies to matters relating to the processing and storage of data. ‘Processing’ is defined as ‘any operation or set of operations which are performed upon data, whether or not by automatic means, such as obtaining recording or holding the data or carrying out any operation or set of operations on data’. This creates a strong supposition that non-personal information is within the scope of CDPA, which is atypical of data protection legislation. This ambiguity could have been resolved by the insertion of ‘data subject’ or by altogether removing the definition of data.

If the above supposition is correct, controllers, processors and the data protection authority (DPA) will have additional responsibilities because of non-personal information. This, however, creates compliance fatigue. Entities will seek a compliance balance between personal and non-personal information. This is worsened by the inclusion of ‘information’ in the definition of ‘data’ as the distinction between information and data might be too technical. The result undermines the objectives of CDPA. The inclusion of non-personal information as a subject of regulation, however, might have been an attempt by the legislature to harmonise personal and non-personal information.62 This is important as technology has blurred the boundary between personal and non-personal.63

4.3 Application of the Act

CDPA applies to access to information, protection of privacy of information, and the processing and storage of data.64 The territorial scope of CDPA stands on an ‘establishment’ and a ‘means’ criterion.65 While the Act does not use ‘establishment’ in section 4(2)(a), it is apparent that the legislature intended an ‘establishment’ criterion. According to section 4(2)(a), CDPA applies to the processing of data in the ‘effective and actual activities of any data controller’. This seems to derive from Recital 22 of GDPR, which provides that ‘[e]stablishment implies the effective and real exercise of activities through stable arrangements. The legal form of such arrangements, whether through a branch or a subsidiary with a legal personality, is not the determining factor in that respect.’

Recital 22 aids the interpretation of the GDPR establishment criterion. As such, the first territorial criterion is one of ‘establishment’. The use of the words ‘effective and actual’ suggests a departure from the traditional notion of establishment focusing on the entity’s place of registration.66 CDPA applies where a data controller has some stability within Zimbabwe and where the nature of the services offered and the economic activity undertaken are within Zimbabwe. An example is services exclusively offered over the internet.

Evidence of the means criterion is in section 4(2)(b), which provides that it applies to the processing of data by a controller who is not established in Zimbabwe where the means used is in Zimbabwe.67 The requirement of whether processing occurred by means in Zimbabwe must be assessed when the relevant trigger activity occurs. This would ordinarily be the moment the good or service is offered to the data subject. The provision is aimed at activities deliberately using means in Zimbabwe to process data. As such, where processing and storage of data are undertaken by a controller with Zimbabwe being a data transit, CDPA is inapplicable.68

The Act is silent as to where it is inapplicable, yet it has become customary for data protection legislation to define its scope and exceptions. Data protection legislation can be an anathema to the enjoyment of people’s rights, particularly in the digital age where individuals conduct some form of processing of personal data.69 This is why the SADC Model Law, the Malabo Convention and GDPR exclude processing for purely personal or domestic purposes. The Malabo Convention further excludes processing for artistic and literary expressions and journalistic purposes within professional codes of conduct. Not every act of data processing by an individual invokes the application of data protection law. Such an approach would make data protection law oppressive and tedious to apply.70

With more people spending time online, CDPA should exclude processing outside professional or commercial activity.71 It must include a provision exempting processing for domestic or household activities. The scope and interpretation of the exception would then be left to the courts through interpretative guidance given by the DPA in line with the decisions in Lindqvist72 and Rynes.73

4.4 Data protection authority

CDPA designates the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) as the data protection authority (DPA)74 responsible for the enforcement of CDPA. POTRAZ is established under section 3 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.75 Its major function is to ‘ensure the provision of sufficient domestic and international telecommunication and postal services throughout Zimbabwe on such terms and conditions as the Authority may fix’.76 POTRAZ is run by a board appointed by the President after consultation with the responsible minister.77 The functions of POTRAZ as a DPA are contained in section 6 of CDPA. These include regulating the processing of personal information, by establishing conditions for lawful processing;78 the promotion and enforcement of fair processing;79 and the issuing of opinions on matters relating to the application of the Act on its own accord or at the request of a person with a legitimate interest.80

POTRAZ may submit to any court any administrative action that is not compliant with the fundamental principles of CDPA and any law on the protection of privacy concerning the processing of data.81 POTRAZ, however, must first consult the Minister responsible for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.82 POTRAZ is responsible for conducting inquiries or investigations either of its own accord or at the request of a data subject or interested person.83 It must also ensure that feedback is given to the complainant.84 It is responsible for researching policy and legal matters about international best practices on the protection of personal information and facilitating cross-border cooperation in the enforcement of privacy laws.85 POTRAZ is mandated to provide guidelines and approve codes of conduct and ethics governing rules of conduct for data controllers. Controllers desiring to have codes of conduct approved must submit them to POTRAZ for ascertaining compliance with CDPA. In deciding whether to approve a code of conduct, the DPA can consult data subjects or their representatives.86

POTRAZ was established as an independent body.87 The independence, however, is worth evaluating as it is essential for protecting personal information. This is important in the Zimbabwean context where there have been incidents of abuse of personal information by political parties during campaigns, and by the government.88 In evaluating the independence of POTRAZ, reliance will be placed on attributes of independent data protection supervisory authorities identified by Greenleaf in his study of international instruments on the independence of data protection authorities.89 These include (i) the establishment of the authority by legislation rather than executive order or delegated legislation; (ii) the ability to investigate and report free of direction or permission from any other political or governmental authority; (iii) a fixed term of office to avoid a commissioner being at the whim of the executive; (iv) removal from office only for defined reasons and with procedural safeguards; and (v) powers and duties to report directly on issues, either to Parliament or to inform the public of its activities.

Other key factors influencing independence include immunity from personal lawsuits against commissioners for conduct relating to the performance of duties; independent determination of resources; positive qualification requirements for commissioners; the prohibition on commissioners to undertake other concurrent positions the prohibition on the appointment of commissioners from specified backgrounds with potential conflicts of interests; decisions of the authority being subject to a right of judicial appeal and review; and the personal character of the commissioner. The factors influencing independence are similar to the factors safeguarding independent commissions created under chapter 12 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. The similarity of the attributes by Greenleaf and the safeguards makes them ideal for evaluating the independence of POTRAZ.

The independence of POTRAZ is compromised. First, POTRAZ remains under government control. In terms of its establishing Act, the minister may direct the POTRAZ board on policies that the minister deems necessary for the national interest.90 The minister may also direct the board to reverse, suspend or rescind its decisions or actions. The only requirement for interference is that the minister must satisfy themselves that there are reasonable grounds that the decision or action is not in the national or public interest.91 What constitutes national or public interest is not defined in the Postal and Telecommunications Act (PTA), thus creating broad powers for interference. An example of this is provided by section 11(4) of CDPA which provides that the Minister of State Security, in consultation with the minister responsible for information and communications technologies,can give directions on the implementation of the Act in respect of sensitive information affecting national security or the interests of the state. This undermines the independence of POTRAZ as a DPA.

CDPA does not exclude decisions made by the POTRAZ board on the functions of a DPA from interference by the minister. It does not describe how POTRAZ will function as a DPA and whether it will be a division within POTRAZ. Being a separate division means that the decisions and actions of the DPA will be subject to reversal, suspension or rescission by the minister. Any investigation that it may want to undertake against the government would be interfered with. POTRAZ, therefore, will be unable to investigate matters without direction or permission from the minister. While section 6(2) of CDPA excludes anyone from giving directives to POTRAZ as a DPA, this is not convincing. There are provisions in CDPA, such as section 11(4) demonstrating that POTRAZ will operate under directives on national security interests, and these issues ignite possibilities of state-sanctioned surveillance. This is concerning, with data transfers for jurisdictions such as the EU considering decisions such as Schrems I92 and II.93

The board’s independence is also compromised by the terms and conditions of service, which are determined by the President.94 Board members, thus, are prone to manipulation by the appointing authority. Where board members act contrary to the expectations of the appointing authority, they may be dismissed or subsequent appointments may be threatened with unfavourable terms and conditions of service, undermining their independence. Moreover, there is poor security against removal as they may be removed from their positions on mere allegations. Board members are simply required to make representations but may be dismissed despite the representations.95 This further undermines their security of tenure. An example is the 2014 POTRAZ board that was dismissed on allegations of corruption and poor corporate governance.96 However, there are counter-allegations that, instead, the board was dismissed because the then Minister of Information Communication Technology wanted to appoint a board amenable to his instructions.97 This lack of security of tenure, therefore, significantly impacts the independence of POTRAZ in its supervisory functions.

CDPA is similarly silent on how POTRAZ in its supervisory function will be funded. The funding will be from the executive as POTRAZ is under governmental control. Funds will thus be given to POTRAZ as an entity and then distributed to its several functions, including the data protection supervisory function. This may cause problems given that POTRAZ will have to balance its two roles, being a telecommunications regulator and a DPA. Government funding will be inadequate for POTRAZ to diligently fulfil these functions. Financial independence is essential for a DPA to effectively conduct investigations and carry out its responsibilities.98 Without financial independence, the effectiveness of POTRAZ is questionable. Further, CDPA is silent on the recruitment of staff working in the DPA function. The failure to stipulate criteria and conditions for staff employment potentially creates questions on their partiality based on who eventually appoints them, how they will be appointed, and under what conditions. Arguably, the designation of POTRAZ as a data protection authority is also against the rules of natural justice as POTRAZ essentially is a judge, jury and executor in its own cases where it acts as a data controller in carrying out its regulatory function.

While the above concerns remain possibilities, the legislature could have done more to ensure the independence of the supervisory function. There was a need to have a stand-alone institution akin to constitutional commissions that would be established by CDPA and given a status similar to constitutional commissions.99 Constitutional commissions’ objectives include supporting and entrenching human rights and democracy; protecting the sovereignty and interests of the people; promoting constitutionalism; promoting transparency and accountability; and ensuring that injustices are remedied.100 The general objectives of independent commissions are like those of a DPA.101 Thus, with the same status as a constitutional commission, the DPA would be empowered to employ staff and regulate their terms of service.102 It would have its independence guaranteed,103 with members of staff being non-political. The staff members would then be appointed by the President after they have been interviewed by Parliament. They would then enjoy security of tenure.104 Another proposal is to mandate the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), responsible for administering the Freedom of Information Act.105 This mirrors the South African approach where the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)106 and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)107 are under the Information Regulator.

4.5 Obligations of data controllers and processors

A data controller is a natural or legal person licensable by POTRAZ, who determines the purpose and means of processing.108 A data processor processes data for the data controller under the instruction of the controller.109 Persons under the direct employment or authority of a data controller are not considered processors. Processing is any operation performed upon data, whether or not by automatic means. It includes obtaining, recording, holding, organising, adaptation, alteration, retrieval, consultation, alignment, combining, blocking or erasure of data. CDPA has three tiers of obligations applicable to data controllers and processors. The first tier consists of specific rules on data quality applicable to data controllers.110 The second tier consists of general rules applicable to both data controllers and processors when processing data.111 The third tier consists of rules relating to the processing of personal information, applicable to data controllers and processors.112 Each of the tiers is discussed below.

First-tier obligations relate to data quality with data controllers being required to ensure that processing is adequate, relevant and not excessive regarding the purpose for which it is collected.113 Data processed must be accurate, current, and retained in a form allowing identification of data subjects for periods no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.114 It must be accessible regardless of the technology used, and technological evolution must not hinder the accessing or processing of such data.115 CPDA, however, does not stipulate who is entitled to access the data. The presumption is that it should be accessible to the data subject as it is collected from them.

Second-tier obligations relate to lawfulness and fairness. Data must be processed only where necessary, fairly and lawfully.116 It must be for a specific, explicit and legitimate purpose and must not be further processed in a way that is incompatible with the purpose of its collection.117 POTRAZ can specify conditions where further processing of data for historical or scientific research purposes is compatible with the original processing purpose.118 These obligations are reinforced as duties of a data controller in section 13 of CDPA. The second tier also imposes rules on the processing of non-sensitive personal information,119 sensitive personal information,120 genetic data, biometric sensitive data and health data.121 These rules provide a legal basis for the processing of data.

Third-tier obligations are in the form of duties imposed on the data controller or processor. These duties mirror the principles of the processing of personal data in international data protection instruments and leading data protection instruments.122 As such, interpretation or guidance on these principles may be used in interpreting the general duties imposed by CDPA. The first duty requires personal information to be processed in accordance with the right to privacy of the data subject.123 This means that the protection of personal information is premised on the right to privacy. The second duty requires personal information to be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently.124 Data subjects, therefore, must be informed beforehand about what will be done with their personal information. The duty placed on administrative authorities processing personal information mirrors the ‘to act lawfully’.125 To lawfully process personal information, data controllers and processors can rely on the different lawful processing conditions provided in CDPA.126

The third duty requires the collection of personal information to be for an explicit, specific and legitimate purpose, and processing must be compatible with the purpose.127 Thus, when personal information is collected for a specific purpose, for example, billing, it must not be used for other purposes such as marketing unless the data subject has approved it or if a lawful basis exists. The fourth duty requires the collection of personal information to be limited to what is necessary for the purpose for which it is processed.128 The fifth duty requires that a valid explanation be provided before the collection of personal information relating to family or private affairs.129

The sixth duty requires personal information to be accurate and, where necessary, current. Reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that any inaccurate personal data is promptly erased or rectified.130 This requires data controllers and processors to have mechanisms that ensure quick investigation, identification and action on any reported inaccuracies. Data controllers and processors must ensure that personal information is kept in a form identifying the data subject ‘for no longer than is necessary for the purposes which it was collected’.131 Thus, the duration for which personal information is kept by organisations should be given due regard and, where it is no longer necessary, organisations must ensure that they delete personal information.

4.6 Transparency of processing

To ensure transparency of processing, CDPA imposes disclosure obligations on controllers. When data is obtained directly from the data subject, they must be provided with information such as the name and address of the controller and the representative if any;132 the purpose of the processing;133 the existence of a right to object to the processing of data if it is obtained for direct marketing;134 whether compliance with the request for information is compulsory; and consequences of non-compliance.135 Supporting information may be provided in appropriate circumstances and includes recipients or categories of recipients of data, whether it is compulsory to reply, and the existence of the right to access and rectify data.136 Similar obligations apply when data has not been collected directly from the data subject.137 However, there are additional disclosure requirements when data is obtained from third parties for direct marketing. The data controller must first ensure that the data subject is notified of the right to object to the processing of data.138

POTRAZ may specify additional information to be provided when data is collected directly from a data subject.139 No guidance or additional specification has to date been provided by POTRAZ. CDPA lacks comprehensive transparency requirements for data subjects, as there is no obligation to inform them of their right to complain to the DPA or of the period in which their personal information will be stored. Data controllers must also inform data subjects as to how they can exercise their rights, and the limitations on the rights. CDPA imposes transparency obligations on data controllers but they have a discretion on compliance with disclosure obligations, with the most common method being privacy notices.140 Most of the privacy notices, however, are complex to read.141 Arguably, they simply ensure compliance with legal requirements as opposed to showing data subjects how their data is used.142 Thus, more could have been done to ensure that disclosure is made more simply. Given that POTRAZ has the authority to issue guidance and regulate how disclosures can be made, there is room to ensure that privacy notices adopted using plain and simple language. POTRAZ can also require the use of machine-readable language by controllers as a way of ensuring greater transparency. Disclosure obligations, however, are not absolute. Data controllers are exempted from notifying the data subject when data has not been acquired from the subject if informing them would involve a disproportionate effort or is impossible.143 Further exemptions apply when data is collected for statistical and research purposes or when it has been collected for medical examination to protect and promote public health.144 Disclosure is also exempted when data is obtained from a third party or when it has been provided in terms of a law.145

Apart from disclosure obligations to data subjects, data controllers have disclosure obligations to POTRAZ. They must notify POTRAZ before carrying out any wholly or partly-automated operation or set of operations that intend to serve a single purpose or several related purposes.146 However, an exception applies where the operations have the sole purpose of keeping a register intended to provide information to the public by law and that is accessible by the public.147 POTRAZ may further exempt certain categories from notification where it has considered the data being processed and that there is no risk of infringement of data subjects’ rights and freedoms.148 POTRAZ must also be informed of the purposes of the processing, categories of data being processed, categories of data subjects, categories of recipients, and the retention period149 for the exemption to apply. Furthermore, the data controller must appoint a data protection officer (DPO)150 and POTRAZ must be notified of his appointment. POTRAZ stipulates the minimum qualifications and functions of the DPO.151 The CDA requires data controllers to ensure that the DPO is free to conduct its duties including ensuring compliance, dealing with requests made to the data controller, and working with POTRAZ.152

Where a data controller is not exempted from notifying POTRAZ, the notification must contain the date of notification and the law permitting the automatic processing,153 full names, complete address, and registered office of the data controller and the representative where there is one.154 The data controller must also inform the purpose of automatic processing, categories of data being processed including a detailed description of the sensitive data being processed; category or categories of data subjects; safeguards to be linked to disclosure of data to third parties; manner in which data subjects are informed and service providing a right to access and a measure taken to facilitate the right. POTRAZ must be notified of the period after the expiration of which data may no longer be stored; recourse to the data processor, if any; transfer to a third country and an assessment of whether security measures provided are adequate.155 POTRAZ may prescribe other information that must be provided by the data controller.

4.7 Security of processing

CDPA requires that data controllers and processors or their representatives adopt appropriate technical and organisational measures protecting the data from negligent or unauthorised destruction, negligent loss, unauthorised alteration or processing, or access.156 The rationale for this is to safeguard the integrity, security and confidentiality of the data. The measures must ensure an appropriate level of security.157 POTRAZ may issue standards it considers appropriate concerning information security for all or certain categories of processing.158 POTRAZ is also empowered to inspect and assess the security and organisational measures before the commencement of processing or transfer of data where it formulates an opinion that processing or transfer of data by a data controller entails specific risk to the privacy or rights of data subjects.159 Where a data controller seeks to appoint a data processor, they must ensure that the data processor can provide sufficient guarantees regarding technical and organisational security measures to protect data.160

The data processor, therefore, may only process data following the instructions from the data controller.161 The data processor and the data controller must enter into a written contract ensuring that the data processor maintains security measures on the data being processed.162 Where there has been a security breach, the data controller is obliged to notify POTRAZ within 24 hours.163 The notification period given to data controllers when a breach has occurred is insufficient. It could take controllers more than 24 hours to identify the exact scope of the breach. As a result, every security incident a data controller detects will be reported, potentially overwhelming POTRAZ. There is also a risk that security incidents will be downplayed and there will be underreporting to POTRAZ. Ideally, CDPA should have adopted the international standard period of 72 hours. While there is a requirement to notify POTRAZ of a data breach, there is no separate requirement to notify the data subject in circumstances of potentially high risk to the rights and freedoms of the data subject.

4.8 Accountability

Under CDPA data controllers must take all measures necessary to demonstrate compliance with the principles and obligations set out.164 This often is referred to as the accountability principle. Data controllers must have internal mechanisms in place for demonstrating compliance to both data subjects and POTRAZ in the exercise of their powers. The accountability principle demands that there is a demonstration of compliance with all provisions of CDPA, and not only sections that might be framed as specific to data controllers.

4.9 Legal basis for the processing of data

CDPA provides several lawful bases for processing non-sensitive personal information. The first is with the consent of the data subject or a competent person where the data subject is a child.165 Consent is the specific, unequivocal, freely given, informed expression of will by a data subject or their legal, judicial or legally-appointed representative to have their data processed.166 Consent may be implied if the data subject is an adult or has a legal persona and full legal capacity to consent.167 However, there is no mention of the circumstances where consent may be implied from the data subject. This defeats the whole notion of consent as it is a mechanism of people exercising control over whom they decide to share their information with. This is more so when CDPA provides that personal information may only be processed where the data subject consents.168

Processing without consent is permissible where the data is key in proving an offence;169 where the data controller must comply with an obligation to which the controller is subject or by law;170 protecting the vital interests of the data subject;171 or where the data controller is performing a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller or a third party to whom the data is disclosed.172 Consent also is unnecessary where processing is meant to promote the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party to whom data is disclosed.173 However, legitimate interest cannot be relied on where the legitimate interests of the controller are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject.174 POTRAZ may specify conditions when legitimate interest is considered to have been met.175

Processing of sensitive data without the data subject’s consent is prohibited.176 Sensitive data is information or any opinion revealing the racial or ethnic origin, political opinions and affiliations, religious and philosophical beliefs of a data subject. It also includes membership of a professional or trade association; membership of a trade union; sex life; criminal, educational, financial or employment history; gender, age, marital status, family status; health information, genetic information; and any information presenting major risks to a data subject. Where a data subject consents to the processing of sensitive data, such consent may be withdrawn without explanation.177 POTRAZ, however, can prohibit the processing of sensitive data even where the data subject consents.178

Where the processing of sensitive data may affect national security or the interests of the state, the minister responsible for cybersecurity may direct how sensitive information must be processed.179 Written consent is unnecessary to process sensitive data where processing is required to carry out obligations and specific rights of a data controller in the field of employment law,180 and where it is necessary to protect vital interests of the data subject where they are unable to consent.181 Written consent is unnecessary where processing is carried out during legitimate activities of a foundation, association or non-profit organisation.182 The foundation or non-profit organisation must have a political, philosophical, religious, health insurance or trade union purpose. The processing must also relate solely to the members of the organisation or people who have regular contact with the organisation. The data controller must obtain the consent of the data subject before sharing sensitive data.

Sensitive data can be processed without consent if the processing is for compliance with national security laws;183 is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims;184 if it relates to data that has been made public by the data subject;185 where processing is necessary for scientific research;186 or if the processing is authorised by law or any regulation.187 Data relating to sex life may be processed without consent by an association with a legal personality or by a public interest organisation whose main objective is the evaluation, guidance or treatment of a person of certain sexual conduct.188 The organisation must be recognised by a competent public body as being responsible for the welfare of such persons. The objective of the processing by the organisation must consist of evaluation, guidance and treatment of persons.189

Genetic, biometric and health data must also be processed with the written consent of the data subject. The exceptions to this also apply to the processing of genetic data, biometric data and health data.190 Health data, however, may only be processed under the responsibility of a healthcare professional.191 Healthcare professionals and their agents are bound by the duty of professional secrecy.192 An exception is if the data subject consents in writing, and it is necessary for the prevention of imminent danger or mitigation of a specific offence.

CDPA prohibits the collection of health data from other sources unless the data subject is incapable of providing the data.193 Health-related data, however, must only be processed where a unique patient identifier is given to the patient. This patient identifier must be distinct from any other identification number issued by the public authority, for example, a national identity number or a passport number. The linking of the unique patient identifier with other identifiers that may result in the identification of the data subject is prohibited. An exception to this prohibition is when there has been express authorisation by POTRAZ.194

4.10 Incomplete obligations

CDPA is not explicit on some of the critical obligations on data controllers, which have become standard in data protection legislation around the world. GDPR, in particular, clearly articulates these principles.195 This is a missed opportunity to strengthen the protection of personal information by CDPA. The first of such obligations is data protection by design. Data protection by design ensures that data protection principles are implemented, and the necessary safeguards are in place when an information technology system is designed.196 At the core of data protection by design is the idea that data protection must be inscribed into the design of information technologies from the outset. The second modern principle is that data protection must be by default. This principle is assumed in the various CDPA provisions but is not explicitly stated.197

This ensures that only necessary data is collected and processed by data controllers. Data protection by design and default constitutes a shift to a proactive model of data protection aimed at preventing data protection issues instead of remedying them. The failure of CDPA to include an obligation of ensuring data protection by design and default means that CDPA adopts a reactive model to data protection as its provisions are meant to deal with issues of data breaches and other data protection-related matters when they occur. Closely related to the issue of data protection by design and default is the concept of privacy and data protection impact assessments. These are processes ‘designed to describe the processing, assess its necessity and proportionality and help manage the risks to the rights and freedoms of natural persons resulting from the processing of personal data by assessing them and determining the measures to address them’.198 There is no requirement for controllers to carry out privacy and data protection impact assessments before releasing a product significantly involving the collection and processing of personal data.

Impact assessments enable controllers to rethink data processing. They provide controllers with an opportunity to comply with data protection legislation and demonstrate appropriate measures taken to ensure legal compliance.199 It is yet to be seen if POTRAZ with its broad powers to issue guidelines will make impact assessments mandatory. If POTRAZ seeks to make impact assessments mandatory, it should ideally compile lists inclusive of when it considers it necessary for a data controller to carry out an impact assessment and those circumstances that do not require impact assessments. An impact assessment would also enable controllers realising high risk to ensure that there is prior consultation with POTRAZ and data subjects to ensure that the processing does not result in an infringement of fundamental rights.

4.11 Rights of data subjects

CDPA provides for the rights of data subjects. The first is the right to be informed of how their personal information is used.200 This must be done at the time of collection of data by the data controller.201 The second is a right of access to personal information held by a data controller or data processor.202 This right is exercised under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as well, which is administered by a constitutional commission, and the timelines listed there might apply, but there might be conflicts between ZMC and POTRAZ on a request. However, there is no provision on the timeframe within which the data controller or data processor must comply with the request for access in CDPA and, therefore, provisions of FOIA apply. Furthermore, CDPA does not describe the nature and scope of the right. This means that it will be up to the POTRAZ to issue guidance on the nature of the right of access and what it entails. Other rights include a right to object to the processing of all or part of personal information;203 a right to correction of false or misleading personal information;204 and a right to deletion of false or misleading data about them.205

Data subjects have a right not to be subjected to a decision based solely on automated processing and profiling where the processing or profiling produces legal effects on the data subject and affect them.206 Automated processing is permissible where the data subject consents or where the processing is premised on a provision established by law.207 However, some data subject rights which have become standard in international data protection law are not provided for by CDPA. The first of such rights is the right to erasure, commonly known as the right to be forgotten. While there is a right to deletion in CDPA, it is limited to the deletion of false or misleading data and excludes correct personal information. The right to erasure constitutes a fundamental safeguard for the enforcement of data protection principles, especially the principle of data minimisation. The right to erasure is not absolute and usually has limited grounds upon which it can be invoked.208 While the right itself is not without controversy and has been the subject of intense debate in Europe, the rationale for its existence was correctly underscored in Google Spain209 where the Court held that the right to privacy is greater than the economic interest of the commercial firm and, in some circumstances, the public interest in access to information. Thus, its absence from CDPA leaves a lot to be desired as there are circumstances where an individual’s right to privacy will be greater than the public interest of access to information and commercial gain.

The second such right excluded from the Act is the right to data portability. The right allows a data subject to receive their data in a structured, common and machine-readable format. The importance of the right is to give more control over data to the subjects to allow for the free movement of data between providers. At a time when data sharing and reuse of data are becoming more mainstream in the digital economy, the absence of a right to data portability significantly hinders the ability of data subjects to move between service providers. The third right excluded from CDPA is the right to the protection of personal information or data. The Zimbabwean Constitution contains a right to privacy but not a right to the protection of personal information. While there is a relationship between privacy and the protection of personal information, the two rights are distinct.210

There is no consensus among scholars regarding what constitutes a right to privacy, but most definitions are framed in terms of information control.211 Privacy is a ‘claim of individuals, groups or institutions to determine when, how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others’.212 A right to the protection of personal data seems to suffer a similar fate with some scholars arguing that the essence of the fundamental right to the protection of personal data is an elusive concept.213 However, at its core, a right to protection of personal data enables people to check the accuracy and relevance of data concerning them, how personal data files should be properly set up and managed, and legal sanctions for the misuse and abuse of personal data.214 A right to data protection, therefore, is concerned with ‘informational autonomy’.215

Despite their differences, the rights to privacy and protection of personal data interact in several ways.216 In Zimbabwe, section 57 of the Constitution protects the right to privacy. It includes the right not to have possessions searched or seized, premises entered, communications infringed, and health data disclosed without authority. The right to privacy has been interpreted as being the right not to be subjected to the scrutiny of personal life or business.217 The interpretation was premised on the interpretation of the right to privacy by the South African Constitutional Court in the case of Gaertner & Others v Minister of Finance & Others218 in which it was held that ‘[t]he right to privacy embraces the right to be free from intrusions and interference by the state and others in one’s personal life’.219

The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe in Netone v Econet interprets the essence of the right to privacy as being informational control. The right to privacy in the Zimbabwean Constitution, therefore, focuses predominantly on informational control. However, there is an element of informational autonomy derived from a reading of section 57(1)(e) of the Constitution, giving people a right not to have their health data disclosed. Nonetheless, informational autonomy is limited to health data. This means that the right to privacy as provided for in the Constitution does not cover informational autonomy, which is the essence of the right to data protection. Thus, the constitutional right to privacy on its own is inadequate to regulate issues of data protection.

Section 47 of the Constitution states that the rights contained in chapter 4 of the Constitution do not preclude the existence of other rights and freedoms that may be recognised or conferred by law, to the extent that they are consistent with the Constitution. CDPA, therefore, ought to have created a separate right to the protection of personal information to complement the constitutional right to privacy. This is because a right to protection of personal information would serve multiple interests potentially extending beyond the traditional concepts of privacy.220 The view carried by CDPA that the protection of personal information essentially is privacy protection may obscure the realisation of the benefit of data protection to society as a whole and might ultimately hamper advocacy and the development and implementation of stronger data protection laws.

CDPA also lacks remedies for data subjects in the event of a breach. Data subjects, therefore, could use the law of delict to recover damages for data breaches or unlawful data processing causing harm. Whether the law of delict will provide recourse in the event of harm remains to be seen, given the rigidity of Zimbabwean courts in extending the applicability of the common law. The best approach, however, would be for a separate cause of action to be created targeting harm resulting from data breaches. Whether data subjects would succeed is one thing, but the absence of recourse leaves much to be desired.

4.12 Transfer of personal information outside Zimbabwe

CDPA prohibits the transfer of personal information to a third party in a foreign country or an international organisation unless an adequate level of protection is ensured in the country of receipt or recipient international organisation.221 Adequacy is assessed considering all circumstances surrounding a data transfer operation, namely, the nature of the data; the purpose and duration of the proposed processing; the recipient third country or international organisation and professional rules; and security measures that are complied with within the third country or international organisation.222 POTRAZ has exclusive authority to determine categories and circumstances in which the transfer of data to countries outside Zimbabwe is unauthorised. When a country has an adequacy decision and POTRAZ has made a list of data that is ineligible to be transferred outside Zimbabwe, data will not be able to leave Zimbabwe.223 Whether such a provision will be consistent with the provisions of AfCFTA remains to be seen as this is not a standard clause in data protection legislation.

Transfers of data to a country devoid of an adequate level of protection can occur in six circumstances. The first is where the data subject has unambiguously consented.224 The second is where the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract between the data subject and the data controller or in the implementation of pre-contractual measures at the request of the data subject.225 The third is where the transfer is necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract that is concluded or is to be concluded by the data subject and the data controller.226 The fourth is where the transfer is necessary on public interest grounds or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.227 The fifth is where a transfer is necessary to protect the data subject’s vital interests.228 The sixth is when the transfer is made from a register that is intended to provide information to the public and is open to the public in terms of an Act of Parliament or regulations.229 There is no obligation of disclosure to the data subject when the controller intends to transfer personal data to a third country or international organisation and whether a decision of adequacy exists. Disclosure would only occur when the data controller seeks the data subjects’ consent for such transfer.

4.13 Offences and penalties

CDPA provides for criminal penalties for violations of its provisions. The penalties may be imposed on data controllers, their representatives, agents or assignees when they violate the provisions relating to the processing of sensitive data; when they fail to fulfil duties in terms of section 13;230 when they are not accountable as prescribed by section 24; when they transfer data outside Zimbabwe, against the provisions of section 28; and when they contravene the security requirements under section 18(4). Once found guilty, the data controller or their representatives will be liable to a fine not exceeding level 11231 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.232 The court may also order the seizure of the media containing the data to which the offence relates or the deletion of the data. The computers themselves are not liable for seizure in terms of CDPA.233

Objects seized post-conviction must be destroyed, and the data controller shall be liable for the payment of the fines incurred by the agent or assignee. POTRAZ is not authorised to issue penalties or fines for violations of CDPA by data controllers and processors. Prosecution for violation of CDPA will be left to the NPA as violations are criminal offences that attract imprisonment, and it is the constitutional mandate of the NPA to prosecute criminal offences. This limits the enforcement capabilities of POTRAZ. Ideally, POTRAZ should be empowered to issue administrative fines and penalties for violations of CDPA. These could include powers such as an order to stop processing or an order to delete data that is held by the data controller.

5 Conclusion

CDPA is a significant step towards protecting personal information in Zimbabwe, considering the absence of protection of personal information under common law and customary law. Private entities had no obligations to protect personal information under AIPPA. They are now obliged to protect personal information under CDPA. The protection of personal information is premised on the constitutional right to privacy. While CDPA reflects modern-day data protection law in most of its provisions, it has several weaknesses. These include using privacy as a premise for the protection of personal information rather than an independent right to data protection; the failure to include other data subject rights such as the right to be forgotten, the right to approach the courts for compensation for infringements of CDPA; the DPA lacking power to prescribe administration sanctions; as well as the absence of provisions guaranteeing the independence of the DPA and inadequate provisions on disclosure to data subjects.

CDPA also fails to address its relationship with the CPA, creating room for forum shopping and the possibility for divergent enforcement by two different DPAs. However, some of the weaknesses in CDPA can be rectified through statutory instruments issued in terms of CPDA or through guidance by POTRAZ. The regulations can lay down requirements for data controllers and processors to conduct impact assessments, and implement data protection by design and default. The regulations can also lay down rules on the nature of the right to access, circumstances when consent can be assumed, and requirements for data subjects to be notified of serious data breaches. It is also recommended that CDPA be amended to include other data subject rights such as the right to be forgotten as well as the right to data portability. This should be accompanied by remedies for data subjects when there have been violations of their rights. The supervisory function should be removed from POTRAZ and an independent authority established and given the status of a constitutional commission. These recommendations will act to further strengthen the significant inroads CDPA has made in ushering Zimbabwe into a new age of data protection.