The Zimbabwean government has launched an urgent, multi-agency investigation following a wave of WhatsApp Business account takeovers and security breaches targeting users across the country.
According to the minister of information communication technology, postal and courier services, Tatenda Mavetera, the scale of the reported incidents is "unprecedented" and requires a swift, coordinated response.
The compromises have resulted in numerous businesses and individuals losing access to their accounts.
While official statistics regarding the exact number of dedicated WhatsApp Business accounts in Zimbabwe are not publicly released by Meta -which owns WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram-broader industry metrics highlight the platform’s massive reach in the country.
ITWeb Africa previously reported that WhatsApp continued to be the most-used platform for mobile internet in the Southern African nation, followed by YouTube, Facebook, and X. This comes as internet and data traffic increased by 57.28% in the first quarter of 2026, driven by accelerated LTE and 5G deployment, increased smartphone adoption, and greater use of data-intensive applications.
While data-heavy video services like TikTok and YouTube have grown rapidly, official data from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe consistently positions WhatsApp as the nation's most dominant messaging and social platform, commanding a massive share of everyday mobile web use across a national network where mobile connections represent over 93% of all active internet access.
Speaking on national television, Mavetera noted that authorities aim to establish whether personal or financial user information was compromised, as well as determine how the takeovers occurred.
“A coordinated response is currently underway to address these security compromises, safeguard user credentials, and ensure digital security across all affected communication networks in Zimbabwe,” she said.
The minister also highlighted that a comprehensive statement from the affected mobile network operator is expected, alongside direct engagement with Meta.
The investigation includes the Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Crime Division.
Mavetera confirmed that authorities are explicitly tracking how authentication messages are handled, stating: "Investigations are examining all relevant angles, including the potential role of SMS termination partners, commonly known as aggregators, and the platform systems which are concerned."
The minister warned users against sharing passwords, PINs, or verification codes, while urging the public to independently verify any requests for money before making payments.
Individuals who suspect their accounts have been compromised are advised to contact their banks where financial transactions are involved, follow official account recovery procedures, and report suspected criminal activity to both the police and their respective mobile network operators.
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