Examining the institutional and legislative frameworks for enforcing cybersecurity in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The exponential growth in technology users around the world has subjected citizens and their governments to a plethora of cyberspace threats. The adoption of Information Communication Technologies has created an obligation for governments to reinforce their cybersecurity systems to promote personal privacy and data safety on the Internet. This qualitative desk research article analyses the institutional and legislative frameworks for enforcing cybersecurity and data protection in Zimbabwe. The article reveals that in response to increased cybercrimes such as hacking, cyberbullying, phishing, the transmission of false and misleading messages and identity manipulation, the Government of Zimbabwe has set up legislative and institutional frameworks to prevent these threats and promote cybersecurity in the country. However, this article exposes how the implementation of cybersecurity legislation in Zimbabwe is sluggish. Furthermore, the article analyses how the institutions for enforcing cybersecurity in Zimbabwe continue to experience resource scarcity for them to curb cybercriminal activities in the country. The article recommends the need to tighten cybersecurity mechanisms as well as legislative and institutional frameworks in the country and the need for policy makers to raise cybersecurity awareness in their constituencies.