Children Of The Digital Age Zimbabwe

11/06/2026

What is online child protection and why does it matter?

Online child protection is about preventing and responding to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect that happens in digital spaces. Every child deserves to grow up safe, protected and free from harm whether they’re at school, at home or online.

In today’s digital world, we work on urgent issues including:

🔵 Preventing online grooming and sextortion
🔵 Protecting children from cyberbullying and harmful content
🔵 Ending sexual exploitation and trafficking online
🔵 Teaching digital literacy + emotional resilience
🔵 Supporting children to report abuse safely
🔵 Enabling access to justice for online violations

The internet is where children learn, play and connect. It should also be where they are safest.

At CODAZIM, we believe protection starts with understanding. When children and adults have Emotional Intelligence + digital skills, they can recognize risk early and respond with confidence.

Learn more about how we’re building safer digital spaces for Zimbabwe’s children with Children of the Digital Age Zimbabwe.

Website : codazim.co.zw
Phone /WhatsApp : +263776570178

Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare UNICEF Zimbabwe World Vision Zimbabwe Hon Tatenda Mavetera Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Dev. Ministry of Primary & Secondary Education, Zimbabwe

10/06/2026

CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION POLICY APPROVED

Cabinet approved the Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy: 2026‑2030, a framework to safeguard children in the digital environment while addressing risks such as exploitation, cyber bullying, harmful content, grooming, sextortion, and privacy violations. The Policy sets nine strategic focus areas and will be supported by legislation, with communities urged to monitor children’s online activities.

29/05/2026

We strongly welcome the Government’s move to finalise a Child Online Protection Policy. This is a timely and necessary step toward protecting children from cyberbullying, online exploitation, harmful content, digital addiction and other growing online threats affecting young people in Zimbabwe.

Child protection in the digital age cannot rely on technology alone. It requires a whole of society approach involving Government, schools, parents, technology companies, civil society and young people themselves.

Beyond regulation, we must invest in digital literacy, online safety education, mental health support and empowering parents to actively guide their children’s online experiences.

At CODAZIM, we believe that promoting Ubuntu online is essential building a digital culture rooted in respect, responsibility, empathy, and protection of the vulnerable. Children must not only be protected from harm but also empowered to become responsible digital citizens who use technology positively and safely.

We encourage authorities to ensure the policy is inclusive, child centred, and practical for both urban and rural communities. Most importantly, young people themselves should be given a voice in shaping the digital future that affects them daily.

Zimbabwe has an opportunity to become a regional leader in child online safety if we act decisively, collaboratively and with urgency.

THE government is finalising a Child Online Protection Policy aimed at shielding minors from harmful social media content while promoting digital literacy and em­powering parents to guide safe internet use. https://tinyurl.com/f6ky97kc

25/05/2026

Organized crime is evolving into a global, tech-enabled threat.

From cyber-enabled scams and online sextortion to drug trafficking and criminal governance, organized crime groups are diversifying and expanding across borders - causing real harm.

95,000 people died from organized crime-related homicide annually from 2000–2023.

A new UNODC research brief examines how these groups operate, profit and exploit technology and why their impact goes far beyond violence alone.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/72fe50Z3JoG

20/05/2026

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world, but it is also creating new dangers for children, adults, schools, workplaces and communities.

Today, AI can manipulate pictures, clone voices, generate fake videos, and create deepfakes that spread misinformation, cyberbullying, scams, online abuse, blackmail, reputational damage and even organized crime. What looks real online may no longer be real.

In schools, learners can become victims of fake content, humiliation, and digital exploitation. In workplaces, AI generated deception can damage trust, integrity, and security. In communities, manipulated media can fuel conflict, hate speech, fraud and social instability.

As technology evolves, digital literacy, ethical AI use, online safety awareness and responsible parenting are no longer optional they are essential. Governments, schools, organizations, parents and communities must work together to promote safe, responsible and ethical use of AI.

The future of AI must protect humanity, not manipulate it.

19/05/2026

ln Zimbabwe, a child can access the before they fully understand danger.

Behind every smartphone is a navigating cyberbullying, online grooming, digital exploitation, harmful content, AI manipulation and invisible predators hiding behind screens.

Online child safety is no longer just a parenting issue.
It is a national development issue.
A human rights issue.
A law issue.
An education issue.

As technology evolves, our responsibility to protect children must evolve faster.
At CODAZIM, we believe digital inclusion without digital protection places children at risk. Protecting requires more than awareness campaigns it demands collective responsibility and coordinated action from everyone.

This requires parents, schools, government, police, technology companies, media, civil society, faith leaders, communities and young people themselves to all be on board.

Zimbabwe has an opportunity to become a leader in child centered digital safety across Africa by investing in,
• Digital literacy and resilience
• Stronger cyber safety policies
• Child protection systems online
• Responsible AI and technology governance
• Community awareness and reporting mechanisms

The future of child protection is now digital. If we fail to build safe digital spaces for children today, we risk raising a generation exposed to harm before opportunity. Every child deserves not only internet access but , dignity and protection.

Internet Society Zimbabwe - ISOC Zim World Vision Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Gender Commission Zimbabwe Republic Police - ZRP Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ministry of Primary & Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Childline Zimbabwe Education Coalition of Zimbabwe - ecozi NANGO Zimbabwe

18/05/2026

Social media apps are increasingly designed to keep children constantly engaged through endless scrolling, notifications, “likes,” and autoplay features.

Across Zimbabwe and Africa, more children and teenagers are spending significant time online, making it harder for them to disconnect and maintain healthy digital habits.

Parents, guardians, and communities have an important role to play in helping young people build safer and healthier relationships with technology. Setting screen time boundaries, encouraging offline activities, monitoring online behavior and creating open conversations about social media can help children navigate the digital world more responsibly.

Therefore, promoting digital awareness, online safety and balanced technology use, families can better protect children from online risks while empowering them to use the internet positively and responsibly.

30/04/2026

Children are spending more time online than ever before, making digital safety not just a parental concern, but a shared responsibility for parents, guardians, educators and digital platforms alike.

As online engagement among young users continues to rise especially on social media, short form videos and live streamed content so does their exposure to privacy breaches, online grooming risks, cyberbullying and data misuse. The digital world offers opportunity, but it also demands vigilance.

Stronger child online protection starts with intentional action which includes:

1. Keep children’s accounts private and strictly controlled
2. Regularly review followers, friend lists, and interaction history
3. Disable location sharing and limit contact syncing across apps
4. Use strong, unique passwords and enable Multi Factor Authentication for added security layers
5. Teach children the golden rule: “Think before you share what goes online stays online.”
6. Conduct routine digital safety checks (app permissions, profile visibility, tagged posts and device settings)

We must move from awareness to consistent practice. A safer digital space for children is not accidental it is built daily through informed decisions, active supervision, and responsible digital citizenship.

Ministry of Primary & Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Zimbabwe World Vision Zimbabwe UNICEF Zimbabwe Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Childline Zimbabwe Potraz Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Dev. ZBC News Online

15/04/2026

Children enjoy the internet, but online scams are a growing risk. Help your children stay safe by teaching them simple online safety habits:

• Never share passwords with anyone
• Avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links
• Use parental controls to monitor and guide online activity

A little guidance today can make a big difference tomorrow. Digital awareness starts early let’s work together to protect our children online.

📞 +263776570178
🌐 www.codazim.co.zw �