Zimbabwean rights groups are preparing to fight a new Bill that would allow state agents to eavesdrop on private conversations and monitor faxes and e-mails.
The Interception of Communications Bill is the latest in a series of laws critics say are meant to crush government opponents and emasculate the country’s once-vibrant independent press.
”If it is passed, it will be yet another repressive law to further restrict the ability in Zimbabwe to communicate with each other [and] to receive and impart information,” said Irene Petras, spokesperson for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
”We will oppose this Bill either by litigation or by presenting our submissions to the parliamentary committee on transport and communication,” Petras told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday.
The Bill was published on May 27 in the government gazette, the last stop for draft laws before reaching Parliament, where President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union — Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) enjoys a majority.
It will establish a ”communication centre to intercept and monitor certain communications in the course of their transmission, through a telecommunication, postal or any other related service system”.
The Minister of Transport and Communications will also be granted authority under the new legislation to issue an interception warrant to state agents ”where there are reasonable grounds for the minister to believe, among other things, that a serious offence has been, is being or will probably be committed, or that there is a threat to safety or national security”.
Telecommunication service providers will also be compelled to install devices to enable interception of phone conversations, faxes and e-mails, a provision that Petras said placed a heavy financial burden on internet service providers.
”If passed into law, the Bill will have huge implications on our business because nobody knows to what extent their communication will be monitored. People might end up feeling unsafe using certain means of communications,” said a manager with an internet service provider, who declined to be named.
Zimbabwe in early 2002 passed a tough media law, which has been invoked to expel foreign correspondents and shutdown four independent newspapers, including a popular daily renowned for its anti-government stance.
A security law passed at about the same time prohibits political gatherings or marches without police clearance.
The Zimbabwe Law Society said the Interception of Communications Bill is ”generally speaking, not an acceptable piece of legislation and ought to be opposed”.
”What has been the great social need for this legislation and what mischief is sought to be addressed?” the Law Society asked in a paper analysing the proposed law.
It noted that the Bill was in violation of constitutional provisions that provide for freedom to exchange ideas and information. — AFP
