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Zimbabwe says Social Media Now a Security Threat

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By Own Correspondent

The Zimbabwean government has said the abuse of social media was now commonplace and tantamount to a security threat hence the need to punish the perpetrators.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe said the “long-awaited” Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Bill will deal with the abuse of social media.

Giving a lecture at the National Defence University in Harare yesterday, Kazembe Kazembe said:

In the Zimbabwean context, social media has also been used as a tool for disturbing internal security. As you may all be aware, the country has in the recent past witnessed the spreading of fake news, as well as attacks on several government officials via social media.

In order to address this threat, there is a need for the regulation of social media through the enactment of relevant laws.

These laws are aimed at giving law enforcement agencies the requisite regulatory framework to monitor social media activities within the confines of the Constitution.

Cognisant of the dangers posed to internal security by the social media, the government … is in the process of promulgating a Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Law.

It is our hope that this piece of legislation will go a long way in addressing issues affecting Zimbabwe’s cyberspace and related crimes.

The Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Bill which is already before Parliament penalises the transmission of messages inciting violence and damage to property and also protects citizens against cyber bullying, harassment, among other things.

The Bill sets stiff imprisonment penalties of up to seven years for individuals who contravene its provisions.

Analysts say while the intention of the bill is good, politicians are predictably going to abuse it to suit their selfish agendas as was the case with the AIPA and POSA.

More: Daily News

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