By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Harare – In a powerful message delivered at the 5th Data Protection Officer (DPO) Certification Graduation Ceremony, POTRAZ Director General Dr Gift Machengete underscored the urgent need for stronger data protection practices in Zimbabwe and across the region, declaring that “data is the new gold.”
Speaking to an audience of graduates, academics, and policy stakeholders in Harare, Dr. Machengete described the growing value of data in today’s interconnected world—and the dangers that come with its exposure.
“In today’s world, data is the new gold. But unlike gold locked safely in a vault, data often lies scattered in the open, vulnerable to those who would exploit it,” he said.
Drawing an analogy between personal privacy and home security, he warned of the consequences of weak data protection.
“A society without privacy is like a house without walls—anyone can walk in, take what they want, and leave you exposed. Just as walls give us safety and dignity in our homes, data protection gives us safety and dignity in the digital world.”
The event celebrated the graduation of 170 newly certified Data Protection Officers, bringing the total number of certified professionals in Zimbabwe to 871 since the programme began in April 2024.
What began as a national initiative has grown into a regional success story, with participants from Malawi, Eswatini, and Botswana now taking part.
“Today, we celebrate not just the completion of an intense two-week programme, but the rise of a new generation of privacy guardians,” said Dr Machengete. “You are the vaults and the guardians.”
He recalled a personal experience from his early work on digitising public records, when an elderly woman discovered her confidential medical information had been accessed and shared without her consent.
“She was devastated. That moment reinforced for me that privacy is no longer a luxury—it is the foundation of our dignity as human beings.”
Dr. Machengete praised the continued partnership with the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), led by Vice Chancellor Prof Eng. Quinton Kanhukamwe, for delivering a programme that is not only technically sound but also values-based and ethically driven.
He told the graduates that their new roles as DPOs go beyond compliance:
“Your task is not simply technical—it is transformational. You are the bridge between innovation and ethics. You are the conscience in boardrooms, reminding institutions that behind every dataset is a human being whose rights must be respected.”
The certification programme, initiated by POTRAZ, aims to equip professionals across government, business, civil society, and academia with the skills to protect personal data in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services.
Dr Machengete concluded with a resounding call to action:
“If data is the new gold, then you—our certified DPOs—are the vaults and the guardians. And if privacy is the wall that gives society its dignity, then you are the builders of those walls.”
As Zimbabwe’s digital economy continues to expand, today’s graduates are expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of privacy and trust.
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