SADC endorses Zimbabwe for data protection training hub

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Gift Machengete

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has formally proposed that Zimbabwe establish a regional hub to train Data Protection Officers (DPOs), a move that positions the country as a leader in data governance within the bloc.

The announcement was made by Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Director-General Dr. Gift Machengete, who revealed that SADC had written to Zimbabwe requesting the creation of the training hub.

“This is despite the fact that the Zimbabwe Data Protection Act came into effect only recently after others had already started,” Dr. Machengete said in his address.

The recognition underscores Zimbabwe’s growing influence in digital regulation. Despite being a relatively new entrant in the field, the country’s Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDPA) has been praised for its comprehensive approach to safeguarding personal information and aligning with international standards.

The proposed initiative will involve capacity-building programmes to train Data Protection Officers from across SADC member states. DPOs play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with data privacy laws – overseeing how organizations collect, process, and store personal information in accordance with legislation such as Zimbabwe’s CDPA and the SADC model law on data protection.

Analysts say the move will bring multiple benefits to Zimbabwe, including its emergence as a regional centre for regulatory excellence, increased cross-border cooperation on digital policy, and the growth of a domestic pool of data privacy experts.

Dr. Machengete described the development as proof of Zimbabwe’s ability to “move mountains” in advancing digital governance and regulatory innovation, crediting a collaborative national approach for earning regional trust.

While the timeline for establishing the training centre has not yet been disclosed, the SADC proposal marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s digital policy leadership. It reflects growing confidence among regional peers in the country’s institutions and regulatory maturity within the evolving data economy.

Source – Byo News