Cybersecurity and Cybercrime
Laws in the SADC Region

https://zimbabwe.misa.org

and securing electronic evidence in domestic investigations. The AU Convention does not contain
specific provisions and does not constitute a legal basis for international cooperation on cybercrime
and electronic evidence.
Like any other convention, it has been criticized for granting too much power to the government,
particularly in accessing private information, processing of personal data and sensitive data without
consent of the owner for the purpose of state security and public interest could be misused. It gives
broad and unchecked powers to “investigating judges”. Such powers include the power to issue search
and seizure warrants for any electronic records. Another weakness of the Malabo Convention is that
it is not a treaty hence has no binding authority on members of the African Union.

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Select target paragraph3