https://zimbabwe.misa.org of the enacted and proposed legislation on the right to privacy and freedom of expression in selected SADC countries. Desk Review Building on document analysis, the report relied heavily on desk review of model laws, best practices and national legislation on cybersecurity and cybercrime. This entailed the systematic analysis of information that already exists, in one form or another. Desk review involves the summary, col lation or sy nthesis of ex isting research rather than primary research where data is collected from subjects. Sources of desk review included: journal articles, newspapers, books, model laws, periodic reports and so forth culled from organisations such as MisaZimbabwe, FES Media, International Media Support, IFEX, CIPESA, Paradigm Initiative, Right to Know Campaign, Paradigm Initiative and Southern Africa Litigation Centre. Secondary data can be a valuable source of information for gaining knowledge and insight into a broad range of issues and phenomena. This secondary provided a cost-effective way of understanding the state of regional, national and international legal frameworks on cybercrimes and cybersecurity and the key principles highlighted therein for the protection and promotion of rights. Key Informant interviews Key informant interviews are qualitative in-depth interviews with people who Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Laws in the SADC Region know what is going on with regards to the circumstances in which cybersecurity and cybercrime laws have been relied on for surveillance purposes or to curtail free expression and strategies that can be relied on to ensure that these laws promote instead of curtailing exercise of rights in the SADC region. The purpose of key informant interviews was to collect information from a wide range of people—including freedom of expression activists, legal practitioners, journalists and human rights defenders. Because of the COVID-19 lockdown protocols and movement restrictions, the researcher used Zoom and WhatsApp to interview 12 respondents from Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia. These people, with their particular knowledge and understanding, were able to provide insight on the circumstances in which these laws have been relied on for surveillance purposes or to curtail free expression and provide strategies that can be relied on to ensure that these laws promote instead of curtailing exercise of rights. Ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality and privacy were strictly observed. Data Analysis and Interpretation Qualitative data was analysed using a combination of thematic and narrative analysis. This allowed the researcher to focus on themes, statements or meanings that emerged from desktop research and key informant interviews. 13