30-day ultimatum to tackle cyber fraud

Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent

ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has given telecommunications operators, regulators and law enforcement agencies 30 days to establish a coordinated response protocol for WhatsApp account takeovers and digital fraud.

Speaking at the National Cybersecurity Conference and Expo 2026 in Harare yesterday, Minister Mavetera said the protocol should provide clear reporting channels, preserve evidence and ensure victims receive timely account recovery assistance.

“For an entrepreneur, a WhatsApp Business account may be a shopfront and the principal link to customers,” she said.

“A compromised personal account can expose families and friends to impersonation and fraudulent requests for money. These incidents threaten livelihoods, privacy and public trust.”

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), operators, law enforcement agencies and platform providers are expected to develop the protocol, which will also address safeguards against SIM card replacement fraud and the referral of suspected financial crimes.

“Citizens deserve timely assistance. Performance should be measured through response and resolution times, together with corrective action on recurring weaknesses,” said Minister Mavetera.

She outlined four other priorities namely accelerating implementation of the Child Online Protection Policy, preparing for the National Cyber Security Strategy, testing the resilience of critical services and developing cybersecurity skills.

Within 90 days, her Ministry and relevant stakeholders are expected to produce a child online protection implementation schedule, a safety toolkit for learners, parents and teachers, and guidelines for reporting suspected online abuse.

“Children must know where to seek help. Parents need practical guidance, teachers need clear referral procedures, and service providers must respond promptly to reports,” she said.

Minister Mavetera said the National Cyber Security Strategy was in the final stages of approval through Cabinet committee processes, adding that preparations for its implementation should continue.

She also called for a national cyber incident simulation within six months involving institutions responsible for telecommunications, financial services, energy, water, health and essential Government systems.

POTRAZ director-general Dr Gift Machengete said cybersecurity required collaboration among Government, industry, innovators and regulators as Zimbabwe expanded its digital economy.

“Innovating, defending and protecting are three things which you cannot do alone,” he said.

“We can only co-innovate, we can only co-defend, we can only co-protect and then build a shield which cannot be penetrated.”

Dr Machengete said about 11 million people were using mobile money in Zimbabwe, representing approximately 70 percent of the population, while internet penetration has reached about 88 percent.

“With this type of transformation, it then means that there is a lot that needs to be done to ensure that there is safety,” he said.

The conference ran under the theme, “Innovate, Defend, Protect: Building Zimbabwe’s Cyber Shield”, with participants discussing measures to strengthen cyber resilience and protect users of digital services.

Source: 30-day ultimatum to tackle cyber fraud – herald

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