Who is responsible for data protection in your organisation right now?
In most Zimbabwean organisations the answer is nobody in particular. Responsibility is undefined, siloed in IT, or buried in a legal team already stretched thin. Nobody reviews processing activities for lawful basis. Nobody handles data subject requests consistently. Nobody monitors third-party processors or reports privacy risk to the board. That gap is exactly where regulatory and reputational exposure grows.
- No dedicated oversight
- Data protection decisions get made ad hoc, without structured governance or documented accountability.
- Missed POTRAZ obligations
- Breach notifications, DPIA requirements and registration renewals fall through the cracks.
- Training gaps
- Staff handle personal data daily without understanding their CDPA obligations or breach reporting duties.
The DPO is your direct line to POTRAZ compliance
The Cyber and Data Protection Act places specific duties on data controllers, and meeting them depends on having a knowledgeable person accountable for them. The DPO sits at the intersection of law, technology and the business, advising on every decision that involves personal data. Without the function, compliance is accidental at best.
- Advises on the lawful basis for every processing activity
- Manages and responds to data subject access requests
- Conducts DPIAs for high-risk processing
- Coordinates breach notification to POTRAZ within 72 hours
- Reports compliance status to the board and senior management
- Reviews and approves data processing agreements with third parties
In-house against outsourced
| In-house | Outsourced | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Full-time salary and benefits | Monthly retainer, a fraction of the cost |
| Availability | Business hours only | 24/7 incident support included |
| Expertise | A single specialist | A full team of specialists |
| POTRAZ liaison | As directed | Proactive and relationship-managed |
| Training delivery | Variable capacity | Structured programme included |
What the service includes
A complete privacy governance function, delivered as a managed service. You get the expertise without the overhead.
Privacy governance
We establish and maintain your internal data protection governance framework, including accountability structures and escalation procedures.
ROPA maintenance
Your Record of Processing Activities stays current as the organisation evolves, so it is always audit-ready.
DPIA delivery
Data Protection Impact Assessments for new or changed processing that carries high risk to data subjects.
Incident response
We manage data breaches from detection to notification, including POTRAZ reporting inside the 72-hour window.
Staff training
Regular awareness training for all staff, with specialist modules for data owners and managers.
Board reporting
Quarterly privacy risk and compliance status reports for your board, audit committee or governance body.
How we onboard your DPO service
A structured onboarding means the DPO team integrates with your organisation from day one rather than spending months finding its feet.
- 1
Assessment
We review your current data processing activities, systems and existing documentation.
- 2
Gap identification
We map compliance gaps against CDPA obligations and produce a prioritised action list.
- 3
Structure
We implement governance structures, update your ROPA and align processing to lawful bases.
- 4
Alignment
Staff training, POTRAZ liaison and policy embedding across the organisation.
- 5
Ongoing support
Monthly check-ins, quarterly board reports, incident management and continuous improvement.
Who needs an outsourced DPO
Any organisation processing significant volumes of personal data needs the DPO function. The outsourced model suits organisations that need the expertise but not a full-time salary.
- Banks and MFIs
- Health systems and clinics
- Insurance companies
- Schools and universities
- HR and payroll companies
- Telecoms and ISPs
- Government agencies
- NGOs and development organisations
- Legal and audit firms
- E-commerce platforms
- Loyalty and data brokers
- Manufacturing groups
Get a DPO without the full-time hire
The retainer is structured to match your organisation's size, data processing volume and risk profile. Start with a no-obligation conversation about what you actually need.