ZIMBABWE NOW WANTS WHATSAPP GROUP ADMINS TO GET A LICENSE
The government of Zimbabwe has announced a surprising new rule. If you are an admin of a WhatsApp group, you will soon need a license to run that group. This was announced by the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, during a recent meeting with the telecoms regulator, POTRAZ.
This rule means that every WhatsApp group admin will have to register and pay for a license from POTRAZ. The starting fee is $50 USD, but the total amount can go higher depending on what kind of group you are running. Whether you run a business group, church group, school group, or a group for your community, you will be expected to follow this new rule.
That is not all. WhatsApp group admins will also be required to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). This officer must be trained and certified by POTRAZ. The DPO’s job will be to make sure that the group follows Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act. This law was made to protect people’s personal data.
Personal data is any information that can identify someone — like a phone number, name, or address. Because WhatsApp admins can see members’ phone numbers and add or remove them from groups, the government says they are handling personal data and must follow strict rules.
Minister Mavetera made it clear: this is not just for businesses. Churches, community groups, and other informal groups are also included. If your group collects personal information from members, you must register it, get a license, and appoint a DPO.
This announcement has shocked many people. Some say it’s a good idea to protect people’s information online. Others say it’s a dangerous attack on freedom of communication. Many worry that this will make it harder for ordinary people to run simple WhatsApp groups.
Critics say this new rule will cause confusion and fear, especially for small groups with no money. They say a WhatsApp group for school fees, groceries, or family chats should not be treated like a big business. The requirement to appoint a trained and certified DPO sounds difficult and expensive.
Supporters of the new rule say it’s about protecting citizens from abuse, fraud, or misinformation. They argue that in today’s digital world, people must be careful with how personal data is shared and used — even in WhatsApp groups.
The government has also warned that failing to follow the new rules will lead to penalties. So, if you are a group admin and you don’t get licensed or appoint a DPO, you might face punishment. POTRAZ has asked group admins who have questions or concerns to contact them for help with following the rules.
This makes Zimbabwe one of the first countries in the world to regulate WhatsApp group administrators this way. While some countries are introducing strong data privacy laws, Zimbabwe’s focus on WhatsApp groups is very unique. The world will be watching to see what happens next.
As Zimbabwe moves forward with this new policy, many citizens feel unsure and worried. Some fear this may lead to monitoring or spying on WhatsApp groups, while others just don’t know how they will afford the license or understand what is expected of them.
Whether this rule will truly help protect data, or simply be used to control online conversations, time will tell. For now, Zimbabweans running WhatsApp groups are being told to prepare — to register, to pay, and to follow new rules — or face serious consequences.
The government is right. Social media is being abused to spread lies and insult leaders. We need order and discipline online just like we do in real life. This law is necessary. It’s high time Zimbabweans learn that freedom comes with responsibility. You cannot run a group without being accountable.
This is just another way for the government to control freedom of speech. Zimbabwe is turning into a surveillance state. We must resist this overreach! Appointing a Data Protection Officer for a simple WhatsApp group? That’s ridiculous. The average citizen can’t afford this. It’s meant to silence the poor.
Why are people complaining? If you have nothing to hide, then you should have no problem registering your group. Only criminals are afraid of the law.
This is not about data protection, it’s about intimidation. The regime is afraid of people organizing and talking. That’s why they want to regulate even group chats. If this goes through, no one will be free to speak, even in private groups. This is digital dictatorship, plain and simple.