Government is committed to providing advanced training for prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies, equipping them with skills in cyber security capacity development and electronic evidence handling skills among others, in order to improve the cyber space in the country, says Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati. 
Officiating, today in Lusaka, at the cybersecurity and data privacy, capacity development, policy and regulation workshop, Hon. Mutati called on the stakeholders and trainees undergoing the intensive cyber crime and cyber security capacity building training to leverage on emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered tools, a modern technical know-how that will enhance application of threat detection and predictive analysis technologies.
The Minister, speaking through his representative, director of communication and digital technologies, Milner Makuni, said the rising cases of cybercrime pose a significant threat to the nation’s security, economy, and citizens who are also highly impacted negatively.
Mr. Mutati indicated that In 2022, the records showed that One Hundred Thousand cyber crime incidents were recorded, ranging from financial crimes, predominantly on the social platform – space. Hence, with that upward trend, necessitated a robust response from government to continue
implementing measures through collaborations and partnerships.
The Minister said it is a gratifying transformative path between the government of Zambia and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) through ZICTA, facilitating training that will up skill and re-skill the trainees.
Hon. Mutati said the workshop will also empower prosecutors to tackle cyber crime focusing on digital forensics and electronic evidence, a step undertaken to mitigate and safeguard the cyber space for best practices, at individual level and in the business sphere.
He said, government has continued to strengthen the cyber security and cyber crimes legislation, working in collaboration with stakeholders, a backdrop to the current and on going revising of the 2021 cyber security and cyber crimes act.
“So what is expected is that there will be preventive measures, ensuring that the citizens and businesses and the country at large is secure in the cyber space, hence the reason why we need capacity building because continuous professional involvement is important.” He added.
He encouraged the participants to align with the outlined principles adopted, at the Global Digital Compact, during United Nations General Assembly, to safeguard and secure cyber space.
“We are therefore proud as Zambia to have co – facilitated this compact together with Sweden and we invite ITU to continue working with us and other stakeholders to ensure we implement that which was adopted to improve the welfare of citizens.” He said.
And ITU representative, Annrita Ssemboga, said the union acknowledges Zambia’s demonstrated effort and its role during the congregate of the 79th United General Assembly. She said Zambia was championing the new Digital Compact, the UN framework for managing and for ensuring a new inclusive sustainable digital for all.
Giving his remarks, ZICTA acting director general, Engineer Collins Mbulo, said cyber crime is no longer a distance concern but a present reality that affects all, as individuals, businesses, governments and nations too.
He believed the nature of scope of digital crimes are vast and diverse. He said it was hence for this reason that the two institutions, the regulator and judiciary, inclusive the law enforcement agencies needed to be abreast of facts and be equipped on handling the cyber space environment.
Deputy director of Public Prosecutions, Nkumbiza Mumba, commended ZICTA for the continuous training and expert support that has been key in helping the authority trace and find evidence in complex financial and other investigations, especially evidence that is electronic in nature.
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