20 March 2006

Alert

Draft bill seeks to allow government monitoring of telephone, e-mail, postal communications


(MISA/IFEX) - The Zimbabwean government has drafted a bill that would permit the surveillance of telephone and e-mail communications while making it compulsory for service providers to install the enabling equipment on behalf of the state.

The proposed law, the Interception of Communications Bill 2006, seeks to empower the chief of defence intelligence, the director-general of the Central Intelligence Organisation, the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to intercept telephonic, e-mail and cellphone messages.

The bill would also empower state agencies to open mail being conveyed through the post and through licensed courier service providers.

This bill has been drafted despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2004 which declared unconstitutional Sections 98 and 103 of the Posts and Telecommunications (PTC) Act because they violated Section 20 of the Constitution. Section 20 guarantees freedom of expression and freedom to receive and impart ideas without interference.

The bill stipulates that operators of telecommunications services will be compelled to install software and hardware to enable the interception and storage of information, as directed by the state.



Source

Media Institute of Southern Africa
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
director (@) misa.org
Phone: +264 61 232975
Fax: +264 61 248016
 

Updates to this story

Sweeping surveillance law to target "imperialist-sponsored journalists" 9 August 2007 President signs spying bill into law 3 August 2007 Legislators pass bill allowing government to spy on telecommunications 15 June 2007 Revised bill still threatens rights of access to information and free expression, says MISA 1 December 2006 Government publishes official announcement of controversial bill to legalise interception of communications 30 May 2006

Zimbabwe

Courthouse filming lands journalist in jail 2 March 2010 Mexican journalist arrested in Zimbabwe despite proper accreditation 18 February 2010 Media remain muzzled as attempts at reform fail, says Human Rights Watch 18 February 2010 Privately-owned newspaper "The Zimbabwean" harassed 18 February 2010 Freelance journalist arrested once again 19 January 2010


 
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