Zhemu Soda - Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
Zimbabwe’s cabinet approved the country’s first comprehensive national framework aimed at protecting children from online abuse, cyberbullying and sexual exploitation, marking a significant step in the southern African nation’s efforts to address growing digital safety concerns.
The newly approved Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy (2026–2030), establishes a national framework to safeguard children in digital spaces.
“Also, the framework ensures that children continue to benefit from the opportunities presented by information and communication technologies (ICTs),” reads the post-cabinet briefing statement. The policy was approved by cabinet this week and is expected to guide government agencies, technology companies, schools, parents and civil society organisations in responding to online threats facing children.
According to the government, the policy seeks to address a range of digital harms, including online sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, online grooming and exposure to harmful content. This is the first national framework specifically dedicated to child protection in digital environments.
The move comes amid growing internet penetration across Africa and increasing concerns that children are being exposed to risks that governments and legal systems have struggled to regulate effectively.
Zimbabwe’s Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Ministry began developing the policy earlier this year, arguing that rapid digital adoption had created new vulnerabilities for children. Officials have also previously indicated that the policy could be accompanied by measures to regulate or restrict minors’ access to certain social media platforms.
Government documents indicate that the framework is built around nine strategic pillars, including institutional capacity building, legal and regulatory reform, prevention and response mechanisms, technical controls, public awareness campaigns, research, international cooperation and monitoring systems.
While child rights advocates have broadly welcomed the policy, experts caution that implementation will determine whether the framework succeeds in protecting children without undermining their rights to privacy, access to information and digital participation.
“Children’s rights do not disappear when they go online,” said Opal Masocha Sibanda, a Zimbabwean human rights lawyer and researcher specialising in children’s rights in the digital age.
In research examining online child protection in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Sibanda found that existing legal frameworks have struggled to keep pace with technological change, leaving children vulnerable to privacy violations, exploitation and abuse. Sibanda argues that governments must strike a balance between safeguarding children and ensuring their digital rights are protected.
Sibanda’s research concluded that Zimbabwe’s legal framework historically lacked comprehensive provisions dealing with online harms such as cyberbullying, online grooming and exploitation, creating gaps that required policy and legislative reform.
The challenges Zimbabwe faces are not unique. The government says that is what the new policy will achieve.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), child online protection has become a global policy priority as children increasingly access the internet through smartphones, social media platforms and digital learning tools. The organisation has warned that online sexual exploitation networks often operate across borders, making coordinated legal and regulatory responses essential.
The African Union has similarly called on governments to strengthen child online safety frameworks, improve public awareness, enhance law enforcement capabilities and foster international cooperation to combat digital threats facing children.
Zimbabwe’s policy appears closely aligned with those continental recommendations.
The government say the framework seeks not only to protect children from harm but also to ensure they can safely participate in digital economies and online learning environments. The approach reflects a broader shift among policymakers away from treating internet access solely as a risk and toward recognising it as both an opportunity and a source of vulnerability.
However, debate is already emerging around proposals to restrict social media access for minors.
Earlier this year, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera suggested that Zimbabwe was considering measures that could limit access to social media platforms for users under the age of 18. The proposal sparked discussion among digital rights advocates, some of whom argued that outright bans could prove difficult to enforce and might inadvertently limit children’s access to educational resources and support networks.
Supporters of stronger restrictions argue that platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram expose young users to cyberbullying, harmful content and predatory behaviour. The ministry has maintained that the objective is child protection rather than censorship.
Digital governance specialists note that age-verification requirements and social media restrictions have become increasingly common worldwide, although their effectiveness remains contested.
“The key challenge is implementation,” said Chipo Mufuka, a digital policy analyst familiar with regional child online safety initiatives. “Governments need technical capacity, cooperation from platforms and strong legal safeguards to ensure that child protection measures do not create new risks, including surveillance and privacy concerns.”
Experts also emphasise the importance of education alongside regulation.
Research by international organisations has consistently shown that parental awareness, digital literacy programmes and child-focused online safety education can play a critical role in reducing exposure to online harms.
Zimbabwe’s government says the new policy will establish structures for coordination among public institutions and stakeholders responsible for child welfare and digital governance. Reports indicate that implementation mechanisms will include dedicated oversight structures and response systems for online child protection cases.
For a country seeking to expand digital inclusion and technology-driven development, the responsible ministry argue that child online safety is becoming increasingly important.
