Mudenda Urges Urgent Cyber Law to Protect Zimbabwe's Critical Infrastructure

Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has issued an urgent call for the Government to enact a specific law aimed at protecting Zimbabwe's critical national infrastructure from cyber threats. He made this appeal while presenting on enhancing national security through effective legislation before the National Defence Course No.14 of 2025 at the Zimbabwe National Defence University in Harare, an event attended by the Commandant and Vice-Chancellor, Air Vice Marshall Micheal Tedzani Moyo, and senior military officers.

Advocate Mudenda stressed that the proposed legislation must address the protection of critical infrastructure in the energy, water, financial, and communications sectors, which he said are increasingly exposed to both State-sponsored and non-State cyber threats. He pointed to the "undisputed sophistication" of threats in this era of Artificial Intelligence application, arguing that such a law would directly address a critical gap in Zimbabwe's national security regulatory framework for cyberspace and data protection.

While acknowledging the Government's strides in strengthening national security laws, including the promulgation of the National Security Council Act of 2022, Mudenda argued that more is needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving dangers. He cited the rapid proliferation of social media platforms as a continuing threat, facilitating the industrialised dissemination of misinformation, the deployment of deepfake technologies, the weaponisation of AI for subversive purposes, and the incitement of communal discord.

These developments, according to the Speaker, present urgent and largely uncharted legislative frontiers that Zimbabwe's current statute book has not yet adequately addressed. He urged the Government to commission a comprehensive review of the country's information and communications legislation to develop fit-for-purpose provisions. Crucially, he stated this must be done while scrupulously preserving the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of expression and the media, noting that the balance between security and liberty must be actively legislated and carefully calibrated.

Mudenda emphasised the need for continuous legislative review to match the fast-changing threat landscape, insisting Parliament must remain vigilant to ensure any new law is regularly updated. He welcomed the recent launch of the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Strategy by President E.D. Mnangagwa as a compelling step that should lead towards robust legislation. In his argument, he referenced international best practice, pointing to Estonia's overhaul of its digital security architecture following a major cyberattack as a model for proactive response.

Related topics: National Security, Cybersecurity, Legislation, Parliament, Critical Infrastructure, Government Policy, Jacob Mudenda, Artificial Intelligence, Defence

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