Staff Writer
A new policy brief by media advocacy group Media Institute of Southern Africa- MISA Zimbabwe has recommended the amendment of the Cyber and Data Protection Act to ensure that the rights of data subjects are protected.
The policy brief which was launched at a local hotel looks at the existing gaps in the country’s laws in terms of the protection of citizens in issues of privacy and surveillance.
Speaking to journalists at the brief, cyber lawyer Innocent Mandongwe said the law must do a lot to protect citizens as far as the protection of information is concerned.
‘’There is a need to enhance the rights of data subjects in terms of the Cyber and Data Protection Act. The act needs to be amended by enlarging the ambit of data rights such as the rights to rectification, erasure and objection and enshrining such rights as the rights to restriction of processing and data portability’,’ he said.
Mandongwe also highlighted that there was no need for data controllers to delay in complying with data subjects.
‘’ Data controllers and processors must also be obliged to comply with obligations arising out of data subject rights without undue delay’,’ he explained.
MISA Zimbabwe also urged authorities to tighten obligations of data controllers regarding data security breaches.
They urged the need for the amendment of the Act to ensure that there are civil remedies that entitle data subjects to receive compensation from a data controller or processor for financial or emotional damage suffered because of infringement of the Act.
