CABINET APPROVES NATIONAL ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]In the era of digital transformation, where children are having early exposure to digital technologies, some as early as 6 years, the impact of social media continues to be immense on this younger generation, exposing them to serious threats such as online abuse, sexual exploitation, and deep fakes. In order to circumvent some of the challenges resulting from social media and their resulting impact, government has adopted a Zimbabwe national online child protection policy targeted to address some of these emerging issues resulting from digital technologies.

[00:00:33]This latest position was presented during a post-cabinet media briefing convened in Harare this Tuesday.

[00:00:40]>> The policy will achieve, inter alia, the following: to provide a single national framework for government, private sector, academia, and communities at large in keeping children safe online.

[00:00:53]To ensure that all decisions and matters relating to children's experiences in the digital space are aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and Children's Act, Chapter 5.06.

[00:01:07]And promote accountability in all sectors of the society, conditions, and practical steps to mitigate online risks that children may face.

[00:01:19]Going forward, government will promulgate relevant legislation with enforceable sanctions in order to safeguard the children.

[00:01:28]>> Zimbabwe has a vibrant youth dividend, and government has moved to harness the potential of this subsector by coming up with a national youth policy that will run from 2026 to 2030. The overall objective is to come up with robust mechanisms to support the youth.

[00:01:44]>> In a strategic departure from the previous policy version, the national youth policy 2026 to 2030 boldly prioritizes interventions to address the following emerging issues: Drug and substance abuse and mental health care, technological innovations, artificial intelligence, and automation, and climate change.

[00:02:10]The policy opens up new entrepreneurship frontiers for youth-led enterprises through the provision of concrete mechanisms for financing, incubation, business development services, and market linkages.

[00:02:26]>> Other important highlights emerging from this post-cabinet media briefing focused on the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Amendment Bill, which streamlines the operations of Zinwa.

[00:02:36]>> The principles will specifically entail the streamlining of Zinwa's dual and conflicting roles of regulator and service provider.

[00:02:47]The regulatory function will be removed and transferred to the ministry, with Zinwa evolving into a pure service-providing agency of government.

[00:02:58]>> Cabinet also considered the Water Act Amendment Bill to realign the Water Act with the Constitution and position it with the current development agenda.

[00:03:07]Fearless Chimwaya, ZBC News, Harare.