Zimbabwe parliament passes internet, phone law

Zimbabwe parliament passes internet, phone law

BIG BROTHER: The Zimbabwe government will have authority to monitor the internet and phones

• Zim set to pass internet, phone monitoring law

• Zimbabwe given net censorship all-clear

• Zimbabwe uses net to hit back at critics

• ISPs revolt over TelOne rates

• Internet service restored after TelOne pays up

• TelOne debt triggers internet chaos in Zimbabwe

• Outrage as army chiefs back snooping Bill

• Parliamentary committee pores over snooping Bill

• Zim unveils phone, e-mail snooping Bill

• Zim promises law on cyber crime

• New law will allow phone, e-mail spying

• Mugabe wants US to shed internet control

• Mugabe speech: internet governance not a US preserve

• Hackers break into government website

• Mugabe's spies monitoring your calls, mail

• MDC claims government intercepting e-mails

• Alcatel deploys in Zimbabwe

• What Mugabe can and cannot do with your e-mails

• MWeb 'will obey' e-mail snooping laws

• Mugabe plays Big Brother on the internet

• Supreme Court bans e-mail snooping

• Mugabe wants to read your e-mails

By Staff Reporter

THE lower house of Zimbabwe's parliament passed a Bill on Wednesday allowing the government to monitor phones, mail and the Internet to protect national security.

While conceding the country needed to protect itself against terrorism, opposition members said they feared the bill would pave the way for President Robert Mugabe's government to curtail freedom of speech and breach privacy.

The Interception of Communications Bill sailed through the lower house without amendments and will now be sent to the upper house, where it is expected to face little opposition. Mugabe's ruling party has a majority in both houses.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislator David Coltart called the proposed law a "fascist piece of legislation" that Mugabe's government could use in an ongoing crackdown on political dissent.

"I recognise the need for legislation of this nature, especially after the emergence of al Qaeda and international terrorism," Coltart said.

"The objection is what checks are there to stop the abuse of this law."

Dozens of MDC members were arrested and beaten in March during an aborted anti-government protest, sparking international condemnation of Mugabe's government and calls for African nations to pressure him to adopt democratic reforms.

Transport and Communications Minister Chris Mushohwe said the Bill was necessary to combat criminal activities that could threaten national security.

Similar legislation existed in the United States, Britain, Canada and South Africa, he said.- Reuters
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com