Of concern though, among other contentious issues, is the fact that the new law ignored overwhelming submissions by citizens during public hearings into the Freedom of Information Bill before its passage in Parliament, pertaining to the roles of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). Overwhelming submissions were made on the need for appeals relating to denial of information requests to be lodged with the ZHRC, or a competent court of law, and not with the ZMC as its constitutional mandate is on media regulation. On the other hand, there are a myriad of other laws that are in violation of the Constitution, notably, Censorship and Entertainment Controls Act, Official Secrets Act, sections of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Interception of Communications Act, among others. internet access/governance The laws mentioned above have a bearing on citizens’ right to free expression and media freedom, and continue to exist at a time when the government has since gazetted the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill. The Bill has been widely criticised, locally, regionally and internationally, for leaning heavily on mass surveillance of citizens as opposed to balancing cyber security with the enjoyment of fundamental rights. If passed in its currently defective state (as of 2020), it is feared that the proposed law will pose the greatest threat to the enjoyment of fundamental rights such as free expression, access to information and citizens right to privacy as provided for in Zimbabwe’s Bill of Rights. Remarks by Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo in March 2020 while addressing senior military commissioned officers at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru, that the military would soon start snooping into private communications between citizens to “guard against subversion” as social media has become a threat to national security, are telling in that regard. It should, however, be noted that the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Jenfan Muswere, conceded during debate in parliament that the government would relook clauses 2, 13, 17, 23 and 164 of the Bill. https://www.herald.co.zw/cyber-bill-to-undergo-amendments/ 13