By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
POTRAZ’s recent clarification on cybercrime legislation may look like a routine public notice, but in reality it exposes a deeper problem in Zimbabwe’s digital space, confusion, fear, and misinformation about the law in the age of social media.
For weeks, claims circulated online that Zimbabwe had enacted a new “Cyber Crimes Act,” fuelling anxiety among citizens, activists, content creators and journalists.
POTRAZ has now stepped in to clarify there is no standalone Cyber Crimes Act.
What exists instead are cybercrime provisions embedded within the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, strengthened through amendments introduced by the Cyber and Data Protection Act.
That distinction is not semantic it is fundamental.
The law is not new, but the Enforcement Climate is.
By clarifying that cyber offences fall under Sections 163 to 168 of the Criminal Code, POTRAZ is reminding the public that many online behaviours long treated as “normal” now carry serious legal consequences
Some offences attract prison sentences of up to 10 years.
Understanding the law is the first step. How it is used will define the future of Zimbabwe’s digital freedoms. Cyber Crime Offences and Penalties
Cyber Crimes Recognised Under Zimbabwean Law
POTRAZ released a consolidated summary of 18 cyber-related offences currently recognised under the Criminal Code. These offences, their meanings, and penalties are outlined below:
- Hacking (Section 163)
Unlawfully and intentionally gaining access to data, computer programmes, storage media or computer systems without authority. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Unlawful Acquisition of Data (Section 163A)
Intercepting private transmissions, bypassing security measures, or possessing data knowing it was unlawfully obtained. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Unlawful Interference with Data or Data Storage Medium (Section 163B)
Damaging, corrupting, deleting, altering, rendering data useless, or maliciously creating or manipulating data or systems. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Unlawful Interference with a Computer System (Section 163C)
Blocking, hindering, interrupting, altering or impairing the functioning or integrity of a computer system, network or critical infrastructure. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Unlawful Disclosure of Data Code (Section 163D)
Disclosing or transmitting computer data, programmes, access codes or commands to unauthorised persons, or tampering with passwords or PINs. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Unlawful Use of Data or Devices (Section 163E)
Producing, selling, importing, distributing or using tools, passwords or programmes designed to commit cyber offences. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Transmission of Data Messages Inciting Violence or Property Damage (Section 164)
Using computer systems to transmit messages intended to incite violence against persons or damage to property.Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Sending Threatening Data Messages (Section 164A)
Sending messages threatening harm to a person, their family, friends, or property. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Cyber-Bullying and Harassment (Section 164B)
Posting or sending content intended to coerce, intimidate, harass, humiliate, cause emotional distress, or encourage self-harm. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Transmission of False Data Messages (Section 164C)
Publishing or distributing false information about an identifiable person, knowing it is false, with intent to cause psychological or economic harm. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Spam (Section 164D)
Sending or retransmitting misleading electronic communications or falsifying message origins or headers. Up to 1 years imprisonment. - Transmission of Intimate Images Without Consent (Section 164E)
Sharing intimate images or videos of an identifiable person without consent, with intent to humiliate or embarrass. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Racist and Xenophobic Material (Section 164F)
Producing, distributing or transmitting racist or xenophobic material through computer systems.Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Recording of Genitalia or Buttocks Without Consent (Section 165)
Recording images beneath another person’s clothing without consent. Up to 5 years imprisonment. - Child Sexual Abuse Material (Section 165A)
Producing, possessing, distributing, accessing or procuring child sexual abuse material, including online grooming. Up to 10 years imprisonment. - Exposing Children to Pornography (Section 165B)
Making or displaying pornographic material accessible to children through computer systems. Up to 3 years imprisonment. - Unauthorised Use or Possession of Credit or Debit Cards (Section 167)
Using or possessing payment cards without authority or reasonable excuse. Up to 5 years imprisonment - Unauthorised Use of Passwords or PINs (Section 168)
Using another person’s password or PIN without permission. Up to 3 years imprisonment.