Zim pushes forward on eavesdropping bill
The Interception of Communications Bill contravened fundamental rights and would drag the country back into the past if enacted, members of a parliamentary committee meeting in Harare were told.
"The bill represents a step backwards and is inconsistent with international standards on human rights and other legal requirements," Wilbert Mandinde, of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, told MPs.
The legislation, unveiled by President Robert Mugabe’s government in May, would allow for the establishment of an intelligence centre to "monitor and intercept certain communications" from a variety of sources.
"The bill seeks to use the law to violate the right to protection from arbitrary interference with personal communications, which are provided for in the constitution of Zimbabwe as well as other international statutes," lawyer Jessie Majome told the committee.
"It moves us backwards and shows not much thought was put to its drafting.
"It also gives too much power to the minister of transport and communications who plays the dual role of judge and jury. It should be withdrawn from parliament," the lawyer said.
The bill empowers the minister to issue a warrant for the interception of communication between individuals or organisations and the minister also hears appeals from those objecting to the interception of their correspondence.
Jim Holland, of the Zimbabwe Internet Service Providers’ Association, said many operators could shut down if they failed to raise foreign currency to import equipment they would be forced to install on computers to comply with the law.
"As a business, we face all kinds of problems at the moment and the bill is not going to help matters," Holland said. Under the proposed law, telecommunication service providers will be compelled to install devices to enable interception of phone conversations, faxes and emails.
Rights groups also argued that the proposed law would further emasculate Zimbabwe’s once vibrant civic groups. But Tafataona Mahoso, chairman of the government Media and Information Commission, said the bill was necessary to deal with international terrorism and espionage.
"We are under surveillance as a country and as individuals, and with this bill we should also put under surveillance those who have put us under surveillance," he said.
Inet-Bridge
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