Mugabe signs law to monitor phones and e-mails
By Lance Guma
03 August 2007.

Robert Mugabe has signed into law an intrusive piece of legislation that gives his regime the power to snoop on phones and e-mails. A government notice published on Friday confirmed Mugabe has approved the Interception of Communications Act, despite intense opposition from press freedom campaigners, media groups and others. The move has already heightened the fears of ordinary people over the privacy of their communications.

Claims by the regime that the law is designed to protect national security have been dismissed as insincere. There is consensus that Mugabe wants to ensure there is no free speech and intimidate perceived opponents. The act was passed in parliament in June and all that awaited was Mugabe’s signature to make it law. In theory the police and state security departments will now be able to snoop on the communications of private citizens through a monitoring centre.

This is yet another law designed to intimidate Zimbabweans, and will probably be used selectively to target individuals the regime regards as a threat. Government would not have the manpower or resources to check on every citizen.