Zimbabwe case study
In this case study, the researcher interrogates the efficacy of a civilian-driven surveillance oversight model that can potentially counter surveillance practice excesses that manifest in, among other practices, unregulated and unwarranted surveillance. He uses the Zimbabwean case as a case in point for the deployment of such a model. Drawing data from critical (intelligence) surveillance incidences that happened in post-coup Zimbabwe approach method and on limited interviews with civic society actors, legislators and activists, this chapter seeks to answer two questions. Firstly, he answers the question: how did intelligence agencies, especially the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), become a political appendage of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU) regime? And, lastly, what pathways exist to bolster collective civilian inclusion in surveillance regulation? In other words, he explores how an alternative (alternative to existing surveillance regulation practices), civilian-driven model of digital surveillance can be achieved. The argument he makes is that surveillance in semi-authoritarian regimes is becoming opaquer than ever. There is need to ‘activate’ civilians to be part of any future oversight practices if fundamental rights like the right to privacy are to be respected in contexts with no culture of such respect. The growing power, and capabilities of intelligence institutions, their militarisation, and politicisation, in these contexts, mean that more than ever, there is need to mobilise civilians to exercise robust oversight on intelligence agencies.
Newspaper articles
Allen Munoriyarwa, ‘The authoritarian roots of Zim’s surveillance laws’, The Zimbabwe Independent, 12 January 2024
Policy briefs
Allen Munoriyarwa, ‘Not fit for purpose: Zimbabwe’s Interception of Communications Act (ICA)’, Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe, April 2024
Academic papers and seminars
Allen Munoriyarwa, ‘State authoritarianism in surveillance oversight’, paper presented at the China - Africa Dialogue Series hosted by the Institute of Public Policy Research in Zimbabwe, 27 June 2024.