extreme hindrances on freedom of expression, and right to information which due consideration of the need to balance. Furthermore, the DP laws are not the only laws, but take account of other sector specific laws.9 This is not an issue if there is coordination and complementary approaches, and if also the DPA is mandated to provide oversight on the actual protection of personal information that might be stipulated in for instance the Consumer Protection Act (consumer rights) or the Banking Act (financial information). 4. Issues Old and New The economic interests and rights aspects of data is premised as the reason for the adoption of data protection laws in most countries. Reading of preambles or statements of objects of the DP laws confirms this position. For instance, the LDPA objects is to "reconcile the fundamental and competing values of personal information privacy under this Act and sector specific legislation". A statement of objects and reason shared by the Lesotho Minister of Home Affairs accompanying the Bill noted that while "privacy of personal information must be guaranteed. On the other hand, free flow of information is a necessary feature of economic life. The Bill proposes provisions intended to balance protection of personal data rights against economic interests of the wider society". Similarly, the EDPA objects are for an "Act to provide for collection, processing, disclosure and protection of personal data; balancing of competing values of personal information privacy and sector specific laws and other related matters'. Zimbabwe's CDPA section 2 object are "to increase cybersecurity in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information and communication technologies by data controllers, their representatives and data subjects". These DP laws objectives demonstrate the complexity of managing the different data interests and rights, especially as it relates to public and private interests. The tension between these interests will increase with the technological evolution. With such changes, DPAs are required to adapt and meet the challenges. The laws might not be amended with each and every development, which is understandable, however if DPAs are not adaptive, then their function will be illusory and ineffective. Admittedly, amendments to some of the DP laws is also necessary to cure the fundamental shortcomings, and some of the amendments will be highlighted in the paper. 4.1 Unending debate on independence of data protection authorities The independence of the DPA is essential to the effective protection of personal data for many reasons. First, the interest in personal data is from wide ranging of actors, domestic, and international. This means that a DPA must be capable EDPA, and LDPA make explicit mention of other sector specific laws in their preambles/objects PAGE