ZHRC Backs Proposed Social Media Ban for Minors to Protect "Paramount Interests"

Jessie Majome, ZHRC Chairperson, speaking on child rights and digital safety in Zimbabwe.

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has thrown its weight behind a proposed government policy aimed at banning underage children from social media platforms. Jessie Majome, Chairperson and Spokesperson of the ZHRC, stated that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of information, the protection of minors remains a legal and moral priority.

In a move that has sparked debate across Zimbabwe's digital landscape, Majome argued that restricting social media access for children is not a violation of rights, but rather a fulfillment of constitutional obligations.

"A policy that would restrict children’s access to social media aligns with constitutional protections," Majome explained. She pointed to Section 19 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which mandates that the "best interests of the child" are paramount in every matter concerning the minor.

Majome further clarified that rights are not absolute. Under Section 86, the Constitution allows for the limitation of certain rights, including freedom of expression, provided the limitation is "reasonable and justifiable in a free and democratic society."

The ZHRC head used a striking analogy to justify the state's intervention in the digital lives of minors. She likened unregulated social media access to allowing a child to play with an open flame.

“For the same reason that we restrict children from exposure to physical harm, we also permit the limitation of access to harmful experiences that might not be physical fires, but are just as damaging,” Majome asserted.

She emphasized that children are inherently vulnerable and often lack the cognitive maturity to filter harmful content or understand the long-term influences of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Majome’s remarks follow a recent announcement by Tatenda Mavetera, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, regarding the development of a formal Child Online Policy. The ministry is currently drafting a framework that could set a legal age limit for social media account ownership in Zimbabwe to mitigate risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to age-inappropriate content.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has previously highlighted the rise in data consumption among youth, urging for tighter "e-safety" measures. While some digital rights activists worry about the "slippery slope" of online censorship, the ZHRC maintains that protecting the psychological well-being of the nation's youth is a fair trade-off. As the government moves closer to finalizing the policy, the focus now shifts to how such a ban would be enforced in an increasingly VPN-reliant digital environment.

Zimbabwe Child Online Policy