The ICT National Bill, inclusive of three key security-focused sets of legislation – the Cybersecurity Bill, Data Protection Bill and E-Commerce Bill, will be tabled before the country's parliament for debate in May.

ICT minister Super Mandiwanzira says the pending legislation is aimed at curbing the abuse of personal data and cyberbullying. "Data is now being disseminated all over, people hacking into accounts and sending negative information all over. We are going to address these issues very soon."

Should consensus be reached, the National ICT Bill will be taken to the Upper House for further debate, after which it could be officially introduced into law.

However, the pending legislation is controversial and people are divided in opinion over government's intention and rationale.

Nelson Chamisa, former minister of ICT Minister and current chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, says the legislation is a government ploy designed to control the media and flow of information.

"The government has already drawn up legal and policy documents to restrict information communication technologies," he adds.

A member of the country's police force and cybersecurity expert, Detective Inspector Denis Zimbili believes the government is moving in the right direction and the Bill is meant to curb internet crime.

This piece of law, he says, is meant to clarify what it means to be a cybercriminal in Zimbabwe and what the penalties are for transgressors.

"The level of poverty in the country has left people with fast and illegal ways to survive. A number of people have been fleeced of their money by criminals using fake websites," he says.

According to Zimbile, these people set up fake accounts and close them off as soon as they get what they want. "People who purchase cars online were facing the same problem as many have paid for cars that are never delivered," he adds.

However, a media expert at the University of Witwatersrand, Nyasha Tamari does not agree with Zimbile.

"The intention is good but for now, the ruling party, (Zanu Pf) is more concerned about a possible destabilisation of the party ahead of the 2018 elections than tackling cybercrime and abuse," she says.