Min Matevera denies claims on WhatsApp group administrators being required to have licenses

By Zwelikhethabantu Sibanda

The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal, and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, has dismissed rumors circulating on social media claiming that the government plans to require licenses or impose penalties on WhatsApp group administrators.

According to the allegations, administrators would face fines of up to USD $2,500 for non-compliance, causing widespread concern.

In response, Mavetera took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to refute the claims as “malicious fake news.”

“This requirement only applies to entities that collect and process personally identifiable information (PII) for commercial or business use,” she clarified.

Mavetera emphasized that her original LinkedIn post did not suggest penalizing or licensing social media group administrators who do not engage in the commercial processing of PII.

“Personally identifiable information refers to any data that can be used to identify someone, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, passport information, and ID numbers,” added the Minister.

In addition, Mavetera reassured the public of the government’s dedication to fostering a safe, inclusive digital space.

“Through the Ministry of ICT, we are committed to ensuring that no one and no place is left offline, aligning with our mandate to provide secure access to information for all Zimbabweans,” she affirmed.

The minister0 concluded by urging the public to disregard these rumors, stating that they are inconsistent with Zimbabwe’s legal provisions under Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of the 2024 Cyber and Data Protection Regulations.