WhatsApp business group admins in Zimbabwe required to pay licensing fee

The Zimbabwean government has introduced new regulations requiring administrators of WhatsApp groups to register and obtain a paid licence.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, at a breakfast meeting organised by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) this week.

Under the new rules, WhatsApp group admins in Zimbabwe must pay a licensing fee to legally run these platforms. The registration fees range from $50 (around R878) to $2,500 (around R43,000), depending on the type and nature of the group.

“I would like to thank all those who attended the crucial breakfast meeting organised by POTRAZ yesterday. The time is ticking for organisations that collect first-party data, as you are required by law to have a data protection licence and the licence fees range from $50 to $2,500,” Mavetera said.

Tatenda Mavetera

The regulations affect not only businesses but also a wide range of organisations, including churches, community groups, and any other entities that manage WhatsApp groups. According to Mavetera, any WhatsApp group that collects identifiable data, such as phone numbers, must comply with Zimbabwe’s Data Protection Act.

“Even churches who collect personal data ought to have such a licence and appoint a data protection officer (DPO). WhatsApp group admins are not spared either. If your groups are meant for business, you should also obtain a licence,” Mavetera explained.

The new rules also require that every licensed WhatsApp group admin must appoint a trained and certified Data Protection Officer (DPO) to ensure compliance with the data protection laws.

“Furthermore, a DPO who is trained and certified by POTRAZ should be appointed by such a licensee and the appointment should be communicated to POTRAZ,” Mavetera added.

Mavetera warned that failure to comply with the new licensing and data protection regulations would result in penalties.

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