Story by Fungai Jachi
The government has taken a deliberate stance in equipping its employees with cybersecurity skills to ensure protection in cyberspace.
Government says as the nation embraces the benefits of ICT in enhancing governmental operations, there is need to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding digital infrastructure against the ever-evolving threats that lurk in cyberspace.
Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Dr Tatenda Mavetera who presided over the graduation ceremony of over 100 government officials who undertook the cyber security training in Harare this Friday, emphasised on the need to protect citizens against threats in cyberspace.
“Zimbabwe is not immune to cyber security threats with social media accounts of prominent individuals and entities hacked in the past. Recently we were informed of allegations that a leading Zimbabwean bank had its systems hacked with the hackers demanding ransom lest the hackers leak operational and customer information. According to a 2015 report from the RBZ, the most common cybercrimes in Zimbabwe are identity theft, hacking, email phishing email phishing, and malware victimisation. We have a critical role as a nation in ensuring that we have adequate cyber security systems and knowledge,” she said.
Government partners commended the commitment shown towards strengthening Zimbabwe’s digital capabilities.
“Huawei has been honoured to collaborate with the government of Zimbabwe for over 25 years. During this time, we have witnessed the country’s remarkable digital transformation and we are proud to have played a role in this journey. Our partnership has only grown stronger, as we work together to address the pressing cybersecurity challenges of the modern era. Looking ahead, I can assure you that Huawei will remain a steadfast partner for Zimbabwe. We will continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies, provide expert training and support, and work hand-in-hand with the government to build a secure, resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem,” said Huawei Zimbabwe managing director, Mr Yang Shengwan.
POTRAZ Deputy Director General, Mr Alfred Marisa said, “As we stand in an era where data has become the most valuable commodity it is essential that we recognise the importance of partnerships. The global landscape has changed drastically with the amount of data consumed in 2023 doubling the previous years this has ushered in a new world order making cyber security a critical aspect of our digital lives. Our duty as public servants is to stay ahead of the curve ensuring that our digital infrastructure is not only functional but resilient against the ever-evolving trends we face.”
105 government officials from various departments who participated and completed the cyber security training programme graduated this Friday.
