Zambia needs to invest in cyber security to combat cyber threats – expert

As Zambia increasingly shifts towards digital services […]

As Zambia increasingly shifts towards digital services and cashless transactions, the growing reliance on technology is also exposing the country to new cybersecurity risks, with technology expert Glenn Mwansa calling for stronger investment in cybersecurity skills and digital infrastructure.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT Mwansa said Zambia was moving in the right direction in embracing digital systems, with various institutions adopting technology to improve service delivery.

“I think as a country we are ready for digital systems as we can see the increase in terms of people going cashless, digitising things, the passport office and different institutions,” Mwansa said.

However, he said digitalisation also comes with challenges, particularly as criminals and other individuals seek to exploit weaknesses in digital systems.

“But that doesn’t come on a white paper. It comes with challenges. There are people that just want to destabilise the system,” he said.

Mwansa said while Zambia had made progress in preparing for cyber threats, the country could not claim to be fully protected.

“I wouldn’t say 100 percent. I would say we are in the right direction to combat ourselves,” he said.

He said the growing number of people studying cybersecurity, together with efforts by technology companies to raise awareness about cyber threats, were positive developments.

However, Mwansa said more needed to be done to ensure that people responsible for protecting critical systems were adequately supported.

He argued that poor conditions and inadequate support could create vulnerabilities, particularly where individuals entrusted with sensitive information could be targeted by people seeking to gain unauthorised access to systems.

“People that manage these resources regarding cyberattacks, one is let them be sufficiently supported. That will be the biggest and the beginning of combating cybersecurity to start with,” Mwansa said.

Mwansa also called for a deliberate national approach to developing cybersecurity professionals, saying the country should treat cybersecurity skills as an essential part of its development.

“We need to identify talent, nurture it. Just like the way we say we need doctors in Zambia, we need nurses in Zambia, we should also have a deliberate policy: we need cybersecurity engineers,” he said.

He said cybersecurity professionals needed to continuously monitor emerging threats because cybercriminals were constantly changing their methods.

Mwansa further linked the country’s cybersecurity and digitalisation agenda to the need for stronger telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in areas where network coverage remains unreliable.

He said telecommunications companies and other stakeholders should conduct surveys to identify areas with weak connectivity and invest in additional network infrastructure.

“With coverage, we also need to take a survey to look at these areas and how they can strengthen the network,” he said.

Mwansa acknowledged that expanding network infrastructure into remote areas could be costly, particularly where there was inadequate electricity supply and operators had to invest in alternative power sources.

However, he said improving connectivity across the country would be necessary if Zambia was to fully embrace digital services.

“We need the whole country to be all-rounded if we are to embrace these digital services,” Mwansa said.

He said the importance of nationwide connectivity could become even greater as Zambia considers expanding the use of digital technologies in areas such as elections and public services.

Mwansa said people in remote areas should not be left behind as the country becomes increasingly digital, stressing that access to reliable connectivity would be essential for ensuring that digital transformation benefits citizens across the country.

Article by Karen Ngulube