By Derick Tsimba

The Thematic Committee on Peace and Security, Portfolio Committee on ICT, Postal and Courier Services and Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services held a joint public consultation on the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill (H.B.18, 2019) in Bulawayo at Luveve Beit Hall today where the public raised concern over the abuse of social media in the country.

The Public consultations on the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill were chaired by Hon David Parirenyatwa, MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora and other parliamentarians were also in attendance.

Submitting his opinion an attendee Eriah Musasa said he was in support of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill since it had the potential to sanitize social media which is now being clouded with misinformation.

“I support the bill since social media is misleading people. When something is still being discussed in Parliament people on social media tend to misinform others before the Parliament has concluded discussions. There is need to protect the public from this false information through the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill,” he said.

Some of those in attendance also said whatever form the bill takes it should support the constitution and criminalize pornography and degrading pictures on social media.

The Harare Post has learnt that the Public consultations are in compliance with the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 regulations as outlined in Statutory 99 and 110 regarding observing social distancing, sanitization, temperature screening and wearing of facial masks.

Team one hearings are also going to be held in Gwanda, Nyamandlovu and Kwekwe on 7, 8, and 9 July 2020, respectively.