Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has intensified efforts to build homegrown information systems and tighten cyber defences as the evolution of digital technologies continues to redefine national security in modern states, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
In an interview after his presentation at the Zimbabwe National Defence University yesterday, Dr Muswere said the country’s security now extends far beyond physical borders, as new digital vulnerabilities demand new forms of protection.
“We focused on the evolution of information systems as a threat to national security. The presentation mainly centred on what the Government of Zimbabwe has been able to develop in order to guarantee national security in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dr Muswere said the country has accelerated the development of critical legislation and policies meant to build a secure digital ecosystem.
“Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Government of Zimbabwe has been in a position to develop the Cyber and Data Protection Act, to amend the Broadcasting Services Act, to develop the National Artificial Intelligence Framework and the AI Strategy, and to develop in 2022 the National ICT Policy and recently the first Integrated Media Policy,” he said.
These measures, he added, were designed to counter emerging forms of digital aggression.
Dr Muswere said the country has accelerated the development of critical legislation and policies meant to build a secure digital ecosystem.
Government had also been in a position to deal with social media imperialism and social media terrorism.
Beyond defence, Dr Muswere said the policies were also driving national development by empowering institutions to innovate.
“At the same time, the policies that have been put in place also support the transformation of education to Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which supports innovation hubs, services and productivity.
“They support ideation to productivity and the production of services, in particular hardware and software development across all universities, colleges and many other institutions,” he said.
This innovation drive is also central to strengthening Zimbabwe’s control over its media and digital space guaranteeing media sovereignty.
Dr Muswere added that national security in the digital age goes beyond traditional definitions of territorial integrity, which is no longer defined only in terms of the perimeter of a country’s boundaries.
“It has been redefined by cybersecurity, cyberattacks, vulnerabilities, threats, and also the policies and programmes that the Government of Zimbabwe has put in place to defend the cyberspace of our nation,” he said.
The Innovation Fund launched by President Mnangagwa in 2018 is part of efforts to grow homegrown capacities.
Dr Muswere said all the strategies aim to create a safe and secure cybersecurity framework and environment as the country moves towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
He also warned that Africa faces risks related to the procurement of foreign information systems, describing dependence on external technologies as a rising threat to national security.
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