George
Charamba,
the
Deputy
Chief
Secretary
for
Presidential
Communications,
warned
that
authorities
are
closely
monitoring
online
activity
to
clamp
down
on
content
perceived
as
destabilizing.
In
a
statement
on
X
(formerly
Twitter),
Charamba
warned
that
law
enforcement
will
not
tolerate
messages
that
“cause
alarm
and
despondency”
in
the
nation.
While
officials
argue
that
the
measures
aim
to
protect
national
stability,
critics
fear
that
the
crackdown
could
target
dissenting
voices
and
restrict
freedom
of
expression.
The
announcement
comes
amid
rising
tensions
in
Zimbabwe’s
political
landscape,
particularly
regarding
the
government’s
recent
efforts
to
regulate
digital
spaces
and
control
public
discourse.
Charamba
himself
has
been
at
the
centre
of
speculation
regarding
his
position,
but
he
has
dismissed
claims
of
any
shifts
in
his
role.
Zimbabwe’s
Cyber
and
Data
Protection
Act,
enacted
in
2021,
already
criminalizes
certain
online
offenses,
including
the
transmission
of
data
messages
that
incite
violence
or
cause
harm.
However,
the
government
is
now
drafting
new
legislation
to
further
regulate
social
media
platforms,
aiming
to
curb
misinformation
and
hold
users
accountable.
Information
Minister
Dr.
Jenfan
Muswere
has
stated
that
the
new
law
will
strengthen
governance
of
digital
spaces,
addressing
concerns
about
anonymous
accounts
spreading
falsehoods.
Other
nations,
including
South
Africa,
as
well
as
the
United
Kingdom
and
the
United
States,
have
implemented
similar
measures
to
govern
digital
spaces
and
prevent
cybercrime.
South
Africa’s
Cybercrimes
Act
addresses
online
offenses,
while
the
UK’s
Computer
Misuse
Act
(1990)
and
the
US’s
Digital
Millennium
Copyright
Act
provide
frameworks
for
cybersecurity
regulation.
The
government’s
intensified
monitoring
of
social
media
has
raised
concerns
among
journalists
and
activists.
Critics
argue
that
vague
definitions
of
“disruptive
messages”
could
lead
to
arbitrary
enforcement,
potentially
silencing
dissenting
voices.
Human
rights
organizations
have
warned
that
increased
surveillance
may
discourage
open
discourse
and
limit
press
freedom.
With
growing
public
reaction,
the
government’s
stance
is
expected
to
spark
heated
debates
on
state
security
and
digital
freedoms
in
Zimbabwe.
Source:
“You
Won’t
Go
Scot-Free
for
Spreading
Alarm
and
Despondency
–
Charamba”
–
AfroGazette