Unity key in combating cyber threats: Minister
TANAKA FETINANDI AND ROBIN PHIRI
ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, said Zimbabwe has completed the development of its National Cybersecurity Strategy which is key in combating cyberthreats and protect the country’s digital assers while also enhance cyber resilience.
She was speaking at the National Cybersecurity Conference and Expo 2025 in Harare yesterday which was organised by the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services in partnership with Business Times, Zimbabwe’s leading financial newspaper where she said that the strategy marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and ensure that individuals, businesses, and public institutions are better equipped to prevent and respond to cyber threats.
“I am pleased to announce that Zimbabwe has completed the development of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which serves as an overarching framework for protecting national digital assets, strengthening cyber resilience, and promoting a culture of cybersecurity across all sectors,” she said.
“This Strategy aligns with regional and international best practices and provides clear strategic priorities, including the establishment of institutional frameworks and capacity building.”
“This milestone demonstrates that, as a government, we are and we remain committed to building a safe, secure, and trusted digital environment that supports innovation, economic growth, and citizen empowerment,” she added.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory of Zimbabwe Director General, Dr Gift Machengete has recommended awareness campaigns at district level and capacity building for law enforcement on the Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDA) to improve enforcement and public understanding of the law.
“We recommend awareness campaigns at the district level and capacity building for law enforcement on the Regulators of Data. On capacitation, we are collaborating with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to try and capacitate each other,” he said. The conference is running under the theme, “Securing Zimbabwe’s Digital Future From Policy to Practice.”
: “Cybersecurity is not just about protecting one institution; it is a shared national duty that underpins every facet of our digital transformation,” Dr Mavetera said.
“Government alone cannot secure cyberspace. It requires a whole-of-government and wholeof-society approach.”
She noted that Zimbabwe’s accelerating digital revolution — anchored in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 — is transforming the country through strategic investments in ICT infrastructure, digital financial platforms, and e-government services aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity.
Among the flagship initiatives driving this transformation, Dr Mavetera cited the Presidential Rural Internet Connectivity Programme, the Digital Skills Training Programme, and the Telemedicine Project, all designed to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
However, she cautioned that technological progress also comes with heightened vulnerability. “Cybersecurity has become a national development priority — the invisible shield that safeguards our progress in the digital economy,” she said.
