THE Nation’s steps in enhancing cyber security are not going unnoticed as Zambia is making a remarkable surge in the global cyber security rankings, securing a 92.6 percent score in the 2023 Global Cyber security Index (GCI).
This significant leap from 14.7 percent ten years ago puts the country as a regional leader in safeguarding its digital infrastructure.
From the past decade, Zambia has recorded 29.2 percent in 2016, 43.6 the following year and I. 2020 the country’s score on the Global Cyber Security rose to 68.8 percent.
Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati says Government’s unwavering commitment to cyber security has been instrumental in driving this transformation.
He said key initiatives, including the establishment of comprehensive legal frameworks, strengthening international cooperation, and investing in capacity building, have contributed to Zambia’s impressive progress.
The GCI, launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), measures the commitment of countries to cyber security development across five critical pillars: legal measures, technical measures, organisational measures, capacity building, and cooperation.
“Zambia has established comprehensive laws and regulations on data protection and cyber security, ensuring a secure and trustworthy digital environment. The Government has implemented a National Cyber security Strategy and established institutions like the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) to detect, prevent, and mitigate cyber threats,” Mutati stated.
“[The Country] has strengthened its international partnerships and is actively involved in multilateral agreements that enhance information sharing and cross-border cyber security efforts. [We] continue to invest in training and education, aimed at raising cyber security awareness among the general public, youth, and professionals.”
Mutati added that Government is committed to further enhancing the country’s capacity-building programmes and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure that Zambia’s digital infrastructure remains resilient and secure.
“The Government of Zambia envisions further progress in the coming years, with plans to enhance the cyber security skill-set within the country through targeted training initiatives, continuous improvement of technical measures, and deeper international cooperation,” said Mutati.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba September 19, 2024
.){kind=link}