Data protection law in Zimbabwe: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Zimbabwe.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
operational regulator
The source QA counts Zimbabwe among operational regulators with limited authority.
Data protection law
Cyber and Data Protection Act 2021 (Act 5 of 2021) (2021)
Regulator
Data Protection Authority provided for by the Act; operational status limited
Registration
registration of data controllers under the Act
National statistics office
Note
Cyber and Data Protection Act 2021; Data Protection Authority established but capacity limited.
Zimbabwe research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Zimbabwe?
Cyber and Data Protection Act 2021 (Act 5 of 2021) (2021). The source QA counts Zimbabwe among operational regulators with limited authority.
Who regulates personal data in Zimbabwe?
Data Protection Authority provided for by the Act; operational status limited.
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Zimbabwe?
Registration of data controllers under the Act.
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Zimbabwe?
ZIMSTAT permit required under the Census and Statistics Act 2017.
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.