D-Day for Businesses in Zimbabwe to Comply with the Cyber and Data Protection Act
In an increasingly digital world, the protection of personal data and the regulation of cyber activities are crucial for safeguarding individual privacy and maintaining trust in technology.
Zimbabwe’s Statutory Instrument (SI) 155 of 2024 Cyber and Data Protection Licensing Regulations was promulgated into law on the 13th September 2024 outlining a framework for the appointment of Data Protection Officers (DPOs). Known as the Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations, 2024 (hereafter “SI 155”), these rules set clear standards for entities handling personal data. The new requirements included the appointment of a Data Protection Officer.
The deadline for businesses and organizations to comply with the Cyber and Data Protection Act and appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) is March 12, 2025, exactly six months after the promulgation of the Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations 2024 on September 13, 2024.
Many businesses have been scurrying to beat the set deadline for compliance. This is because non-compliance with SI 155 of 2024 can result in various penalties, including fines, suspension, or revocation of licenses. Organizations and individuals found in violation of the regulations may face legal actions and sanctions. In some drastic instances, the Regulations state that failure to comply with the regulations can result in fines of up to level 11 (approximately $5,000) or imprisonment for up to seven years, or both. Is your business now compliant with SI 155 of 2024?
Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146, +263 713 967 341 or lenonrwizi@gmail.com. The above write up does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does not create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice by contacting the writer ) or any attorney of your choice.
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