Zimbabwe’s government has announced a new regulation that will require all WhatsApp group administrators will now need to register with the Post and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and obtain a license to operate their groups
The Zimbabwean government has enacted new laws requiring WhatsApp group administrators to acquire a license.
The license payments are required of all data controllers, including WhatsApp administrators who manage data related to commercial conversations, per Statutory Instrument 155 of 2024.
The new license will apply to several organizations, including churches, companies, and community organisations, with a minimum fee of $50.
The Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) advised organisations to get assistance in fulfilling the new regulation because non-compliance may result in penalties.
WhatsApp group admin license fees depend on the group sizes: from $50 to $2,500
The different fees payable, from a minimum of US $50, are tiered depending on the number of people in the group. This information is in Statutory Instrument 155 of 2024: Cyber and Data Protection (Licensing of Data Controllers and Appointment of Data Protection Officers) Regulations, 2024.
Here are the fees that WhatsApp Admins and other people that collect and process people’s data in Zimbabwe will have to pay:
| Licence categories | Number of People | Annual Fees (USD) | Application Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | minimum of 50 or a maximum of 1,000 people | $50 | $0 |
| Tier 2 | minimum of 1,001 or a maximum of 100,000 people | $300 | $30 |
| Tier 3 | minimum of 100,001 or a maximum of 500,000 people | $500 | $30 |
| Tier 4 | more than 500,000 people | $2500 | $30 |
What’s behind the new WhatsApp regulation
The new WhatsApp regulation is aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation and potential unrest. It is also intended to align with the country’s Data Protection Act. According to the Act, personal information is any information that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person. WhatsApp group admins have access to member phone numbers which is why they, as per the government, come under DPA.
The announcement immediately criminalises something done by many Zimbabweans as part of their business marketing and customer communication.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa stated that licensing would help track the sources of false information. This comes alongside broader regulations on data protection, affecting organizations from churches to businesses.
Group admins will need to provide personal information as part of the licensing process. While the government justifies the initiative for national security, critics argue it could stifle online discourse and infringe on privacy rights.
The regulation aligns with WhatsApp’s recent efforts to combat misinformation, such as the introduction of a “Search on web” tool to verify images. However, the licensing requirement has ignited debate, with many questioning its practicality and potential impact on online communities.
