Minister Phuti warns of rising cyber threats

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti has revealed that more than 90 percent of African businesses have suffered cyber-attacks in the past year, underscoring the continent's growing vulnerability to digital threats.

Speaking at the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference and Expo held on Wednesday under the theme "Securing Zimbabwe's Digital Future: From Policy to Practice," Phuti said the rising cost and complexity of cybercrime are now among the most pressing challenges facing both governments and the private sector.

"In Africa, more than 90 percent of businesses have experienced at least one form of cyber-attack in the past year, with phishing and ransomware being the most common," he said. "The African Union Commission estimates that the continent loses over US$4 billion annually to cybercrime - resources that could otherwise be invested in education, health, and innovation."

Phuti further cited global projections showing that cybercrime could cost the world more than US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from US$3 trillion in 2015, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. "These figures are not meant to alarm us," he added, "but to remind us that digital trust is the new currency of development - and without it, innovation cannot thrive."

He highlighted Zimbabwe's progress in strengthening its digital defences, pointing to the enactment of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, which provides a legal framework for safeguarding personal data and prosecuting cyber offenders.

"However, policy alone is not enough," Phuti cautioned. "The true measure of success lies in effective implementation, where institutions, skills, technologies, and partnerships converge to turn frameworks into practical resilience."

The deputy minister said the conference offers a critical platform for collaboration between government, regulators, innovators, and researchers to build a secure and trusted digital economy for Zimbabwe.