DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIANS have been urged to understand the Personal Data Protection Act No 11 of 2022 and its regulations to effectively use them in defending their rights and ensuring the safety of their personal information.
The remark was made in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday by Zaina Foundation Executive Director Zaituni Njovu during a training which brought together members of the Tanzania Digital Rights Coalition to enhance their understanding on the provisions of the act and its regulations.
The two-day training organised by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and its partner, Zaina Foundation will see the participants develop a comprehensive advocacy plan aimed at following through the amendment of proposed sections of the Protection Act (PDPA) of 2022 and its Regulations No 349 and 350 of 2023 that require reforms.
“We have decided to provide this training to the members of the coalition because they come from various NGOs in Tanzania… after educating them they will go and educate the communities they work with, to ensure the knowledge spreads to all Tanzanians,” she said.
Ms Njovu noted that, her organisation has a strategy to provide education about the law in more rural areas particularly reaching women in remote areas and those with physical disabilities or align with one of its objectives of promoting digital rights and inclusion.
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PIN Executive Director ‘Gbenga Sesan said his organisation works in various countries in Africa to protect digital rights and also work on digital inclusion.
“We make sure that laws that support digital rights are promoted and those which do not protect digital rights are discussed and questioned”, he said.
PIN Programmes Officer for East Africa, Miriam Wanjiru commended Tanzania for enacting and adopting the law.
She said that the training also aimed to share experiences with coalition members on successes and challenges of data protection laws of other countries they have worked with and identify areas for improvement.
On her part, Youth Environmental Justice and Gender Equality (YOGE) Executive Director, Advocate Philomena Mwalongo said that the training was crucial because it provides platform for the stakeholders to discuss and find ways to improve the implementation of the law which not only guarantees protection of personal information for individuals but also ensure their safety.
“It also helps to ensure that the rights outlined in our constitution are upheld more effectively,” she said.
The workshop which falls under Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES) forms part
of ongoing efforts to align Tanzania’s data protection laws with both constitutional guarantees and international standards. The training aims to equip members of the Tanzania Digital Rights Coalition with enhanced legal and advocacy skills, enabling them to effectively push for better policy reforms.