, described as “unjustifiable invasion of privacy” by critics, empowers the police and departments of national security, defence, intelligence and revenue authorities to give directives to intercept certain communications.
ISPs would be required to ensure that their “systems are technically capable of supporting lawful interception at all times” by setting up a monitoring centre.
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Internet Service Providers Association (ZISPA) Shadreck Nkala declined comment. But sources said the Act changes the existing franchise agreement between Tel*One and ZISPA members
An ISP representative confirmed receiving an order asking them to monitor all e-mails and take measures to block any “illegal material which was harmful to the country”.
“They have said we have to install a new system, which will store all the e-mails that go through our system, and then we will have to sift through them,” he said. “This is an extremely difficult thing to do,” said the representative.
None of ZISPA’s members have complied at the moment and “there is no monitoring of any sort of any e-mails at the moment”.
The government of President Mugabe has been accused by local and international human rights groups of suppressing perceived opposition.
Law Society of Zimbabwe president Beatrice Mtetwa said the law was open to challenge in the Supreme Court.
Legal Affairs secretary in the Mutambara-led MDC said the law was a shocking breach of fundamental rights of people’s freedom of expression.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa described the law as an unwarranted intrusion into privacy. – Chief reporter
Post published in: News