What is processing which is
‘incompatible with original purpose’
mean?
The data controller must ensure that if data is then used for
other processes different from the initial reason for collection,
that additional use must be compatible with the original
collection process. The data subject must ensure that they
are not accepting additional uses without reading terms and
conditions of services for instance when opening accounts,
you might be asked if you accept promotional materials to be
sent to your address or credit facilities asking if they can share
your details with other loan providers.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
While the law prohibits further processing, remember that:
• if the new purpose is compatible with the original purpose,
then it’s acceptable
• if the data subject agrees or gives specific consent to
further processing though incompatible with original
collection then it becomes lawful
• if there are legal grounds allowing for further processing
in the public interest then such is lawful

Specific, explicit and legitimate processing enables transparency,
and accountability and data subject
control of personal information
ILLUSTRATION OF ORIGINAL USE AND COMPATIBLE USE
processing30.
The data controller must specify the
Data Collected
Original Use
Compatible Use
data before commencing processing.
Nasal fluids
COVID-19 testing Genome sequencing to trace virus
This must be clear. It must not be
uncertain or for illegal or unlawful
Cell number
Voter registration Notifying of your polling station
purposes. Further data processing must
Educational qualifications Accreditation
Register of Qualified professionals
be compatible with original purposes
unless if public interest purposes
Nasal fluids
COVID-19 testing Trading with medical insurance firms.
exceptions apply, or the data subject
has consented31. It is also possible
Cell phone number
Voter registration Unsolicited messages by political
that data might have multiple
parties.
purpose when collected. Then the
Educational qualifications Accreditation
Selling of third-party training
data controller must for each
programmes.
purpose be specific, meaning
compliance with all data processing
requirements for each purpose32.
However, there other legitimate purposes, which do not need
to satisfy the compatibility test. These are usually public interest
purposes not the original purpose but will be deemed acceptable
if they satisfy conditions issued by the Authority. These conditions
include further processing for historical, statistical, or scientific
research or archiving purposes. That said, the Authority must
include in its conditions for further processing that the
information must not be identifiable to a data subject.

30
31
32

Article 29 Data Protection Working Party Opinion 03/2013 on purpose
limitation 13.
GDPR art 6(4); GDPR Art 14 (1) (a)-(f); POPIA s12(2)(a) -(f); see Article 29 Data
Protection Working Party (203) 24-27.
Article 29 Data Protection Working Party ‘Opinion 03/2013 on Purpose
Limitation 12; 16.

ORIGINAL USE

LEGITIMATE USE

Nasal fluids

Scientific medical research of viruses (medical)

Cell phone

Measurement of cell phone coverage (statistical)

Educational qualifications

Audit of professional skills movement (historical)

M I S A

Z I M B A B W E

•

G U I D E

T O

T H E

Z I M B A B W E A N

C Y B E R

A N D

D A T A

P R O T E C T I O N

A C T

-

2 0 2 2

17

Select target paragraph3