Govt. to strengthen cyber security capacity

Ministry of Technology and Science, Permanent Secretary, Brilliant Habeenzu, says Government will continue to strengthen the country’s cyber security capacity. And Dr Habeenzu says Government recognizes that a secure digital environment is fundamental to the success of Zambia’s…

Ministry of Technology and Science, Permanent Secretary, Brilliant Habeenzu, says Government will continue to strengthen the country’s cyber security capacity.

And Dr Habeenzu says Government recognizes that a secure digital environment is fundamental to the success of Zambia’s digital transformation agenda.

Speaking in Lusaka today at the Fortinet Tech Seminar, Dr Habeenzu said the Ministry of Technology and Science has therefore sustained the strengthening of policy, legislative and institutional architecture for cyber security.

Dr Habeenzu cited the establishment of the Zambia Cyber Security Framework through the Cyber Security Act number 3 of 2025 and the Cyber Crimes Act number 4 of 2025, alongside the Data Protection Act in addition to the Electronic Communications and Transactions Framework.

He said Government , however, needs the help of the private sector in protecting the cyberspace.

“This brings me to the importance of the private sector. The Government can establish laws, policies and standards but the networks, data centres, financial systems, industrial control systems and digital platforms that constitute our economy are operated across both the public and private sectors,” Dr Habeenzu said.

Speaking at the same event, Micronics Consulting Limited, Managing Consultant, Michael Nabutali said digital infrastructure and operational systems have become increasingly connected across the country, a development that poses cyber risks.

“While this connectivity unlocks incredible efficiency and growth, it also exposes our enterprise networks and critical operational technology to evolving cyber risks,” Mr Nabutali observed.