By A Correspondent
Zimbabweans have strongly criticized the Mnangagwa administration’s proposed WhatsApp license fees, calling the move absurd and an overreach into personal communication.
The announcement, made by Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Postal, and Courier Services, Hon. Tatenda Mavetera on Thursday, stated that all WhatsApp group administrators will soon be required to register and obtain a license from the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) to operate their groups.
The new licensing requirements, revealed during a recent POTRAZ breakfast meeting, set the minimum cost for a license at $50, with the fees varying depending on the nature of the group.
In addition to paying for the license, WhatsApp group admins will be required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), who must be trained and certified by POTRAZ. This new requirement is part of an effort to enforce compliance with Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act, which governs the handling of personal data.
The law defines personal data as any information that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person, and since WhatsApp group admins have access to members’ phone numbers, the government argues that these groups are subject to data protection regulations.
Minister Mavetera emphasized that the requirement would apply not only to business groups but also to community organizations, churches, and any other groups that collect personal data.
“Even churches who collect personal data ought to have such a license and appoint a DPO,” she stated, highlighting the government’s desire to tighten data security and privacy for all citizens.
However, the announcement has sparked a firestorm of criticism. Many Zimbabweans have questioned the implications of the new regulations on free communication and privacy in digital spaces. Critics argue that such licensing requirements could create an undue burden on informal group administrators, particularly for community-based groups and small businesses.
Others have expressed concern that this move could further restrict free expression online.
One critic, Taurai Cheteni, expressed frustration with the move on social media, writing: “Good evening Minister. Is it not makakandwa ku deep end? Madii kukumbira kuchinjwa ministry. I think you can be very useful somewhere else, ICT is not everyone, you included. Can you not kindly ask HE to assign you somewhere because ha, you have been misfiring from day one. I personally feel sorry for you but be honest with your boss and admit that you can’t cope.”
Another commenter, Evy Chats, echoed dissatisfaction, recalling a conversation about the proposed licenses: “I was talking to my guy about the introduction of licenses for WhatsApp admins, and he said hamuna kudzidza (you didn’t study). I defended you, saying you have masters in marketing, but he said that was a lie—you paid for it. Now I’m left embarrassed. Please, come and back me up, Hon.”
Albert Nyamayaro raised another point, arguing that the government’s plans were unfair, saying: “You can’t make money from other people’s platforms. WhatsApp is someone’s intellectual property (IP), and the government through POTRAZ cannot make money from it. It does not make sense at all.”
While the government argues that the new regulations are necessary to protect personal data and ensure privacy, many Zimbabweans feel that the move is an unnecessary encroachment on their digital freedoms. POTRAZ has encouraged group admins with concerns to reach out for guidance on how to comply with the new requirements.