Zimbabwe Requires WhatsApp Group Administrators to Obtain Licenses
Bradley Chagoya 
Zimbabwe’s government has introduced new regulations mandating that administrators of WhatsApp groups must register and secure a paid-for licence. This new directive was announced by the minister of information and communication technology, postal and courier services, Tatenda Mavetera, at a breakfast meeting organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) this week.
Under the new rules, administrators of WhatsApp groups operating within Zimbabwe are required to pay a licensing fee to legally manage these platforms. The fees for registration start at $50 (about R878) and can go up to $2,500 (about R43,000), depending on the type and nature of the group being administered.
“I would like to thank all those who attended the crucial breakfast meeting organized by POTRAZ yesterday. The time is ticking for organizations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence, and the licence fees range from $50 to $2,500,” said Mavetera.
The regulation applies not only to businesses but also to a wide range of organizations, including community groups, churches, and other entities that manage WhatsApp groups. According to Mavetera, any WhatsApp group that collects identifiable data, such as phone numbers, falls under the regulation of Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act.
“Even churches that collect personal data ought to have such a licence and appoint a data protection officer (DPO). WhatsApp group admins are not spared either. If your groups are meant for business, you should also obtain a licence,” Mavetera stated.
The new regulations stipulate that every licensed WhatsApp group admin must appoint a trained and certified DPO who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with data protection laws.
“Furthermore, a DPO who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee, and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ,” Mavetera added.
Mavetera emphasized that failure to comply with these new licensing and data protection requirements would result in penalties. This move has sparked significant discussion among the public and within various organizations regarding the implications for privacy and administration in the digital age.
