VPNs are legal to use in Zimbabwe, with no specific laws prohibiting their use for privacy and security purposes. Zimbabwe faces internet freedom challenges, scoring 48 out of 100 on the Freedom on the Net 2024 index (1). Despite government-imposed social media blocks during politically sensitive periods, virtual private networks remain a lawful tool for Zimbabwean citizens seeking online privacy protection.
During January 2019, when the government blocked major social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Tinder for approximately one week during contentious protests, Zimbabwean internet users turned to VPNs (1). Access Now, a digital rights organization, documented this shutdown and noted citizens' efforts to circumvent censorship (2). The blocks lasted until a court ruled the government's actions illegal on January 21, 2019 (1).
"To avoid censorship, Zimbabweans used VPNs to circumvent the social media blocking and share with the world evidence of the killing of protestors, injury, and numerous other human rights violations that appear to have been perpetrated by police during the protests."
While VPNs remain legal in Zimbabwe, the country continues to experience internet freedom concerns including infrastructure limitations, high data costs, and periodic connectivity restrictions during political events. Users seeking to protect their privacy or access blocked content during shutdowns can legally use VPN services (1). However, using VPNs for illegal activities remains prohibited under Zimbabwean law, regardless of the encryption technology employed (2).
Source:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/zimbabwe/freedom-net/2024
https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/zimbabwe-orders-a-three-day-country-wide-internet-shutdown
Last updated: 15-01-2026 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
