Section 62: Access to information
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) Every Zimbabwean citizen or permanent resident, including juristic persons and the Zimbabwean media, has the right of access to any information held by the State or by any institution or agency of government at every level, in so far as the information is required in the interests of public accountability.
(2) Every person, including the Zimbabwean media, has the right of access to any information held by any person, including the State, in so far as the information is required for the exercise or protection of a right.
(3) Every person has a right to the correction of information, or the deletion of untrue, erroneous or misleading information, which is held by the State or any institution or agency of the government at any level, and which relates to that person.
(4) Legislation must be enacted to give effect to this right, but may restrict access to information in the interests of defence, public security or professional confidentiality, to the extent that the restriction is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom.
Insight on Access to Information
This constitutional provision establishes a robust framework for transparency and information rights in Zimbabwe. It's particularly significant because it extends beyond just government accountability to include information needed for personal rights protection. The right to correction of personal information is a progressive element that acknowledges data integrity. While the constitution permits certain restrictions, these limitations must pass a strict five-part test (fair, reasonable, necessary, justifiable, and compatible with democratic values), creating a presumption in favor of disclosure rather than secrecy.