Regulating social media in Zimbabwe poses a further threat to its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and the free flow of information.

This is according to the Media Monitoring Project in Zimbabwe (MMPZ) in their latest report.

Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) officials and members of the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications have previously said that a bill is being crafted to “combat cyber bullying and cyber-crimes” in Zimbabwe.

MMPZ has subsequently reacted to this in their latest report.

“The government and other influential members of society might take advantage of these laws to restrict criticism of public figures and the exposure of bad governance and other malpractices across all sectors of society by bloggers, government critics and journalists, among others,” MMPZ said in its report.

Members of the parliamentary committee on communications have also called on parliament to pass “anti-harassment laws specific to the internet” and how it is used.

The concerns by Potraz and parliamentary officials stem from a shadowy Facebook profile dubbed Baba Jukwa, which last year spewed out state and government secrets in the public domain.