By Tendai Chisiri
Postal Telecommunications and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) collaborating with Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) in partnership with Huawei held a week long Cyber Security Training for Civil servants, for them to learn new things.
In his remarks on the occassion of the graduation ceremony for Data Protection Officers(DPO), POTRAZ director general Gift Machengete said the essence of the sector’s achievemnets as they celebrate the collaborative success of POTRAZ and HIT in pioneering the Data Protection Officer Protection Certification Training Program captures the sentiments by Steven Anderson, ” Alone we are smart but together we are brilliant”.
”Today is a historic day for Zimbabwe and Sub Saharan Africa as a whole. We are not only marking the graduation of the pioneering class of Data Protection Officers but also celebrating the inauguration of what will become a cornerstone in our nation’s data protection landscape. This is a day of firsts—our inaugural graduation in a program designed to address the critical need for robust data protection mechanisms in our digital era”, he noted.
”Our esteemed graduands have successfully completed a rigorous and comprehensive training program, jointly offered by POTRAZ and HIT. This achievement represents a significant milestone in our journey towards establishing a formidable framework for data protection in Zimbabwe. To see 57 new Data Protection Officers emerge from this inaugural class within just 12 months of curriculum development is a testament to the dedication and foresight of everyone involved”, he added.
In 2021, the Government of Zimbabwe enacted the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07], designating POTRAZ as the Data Protection Authority and mandating us with the crucial task of developing and implementing a regulatory framework for data protection. This legislation underscored the importance of having well-trained professionals who can ensure the safe and compliant processing of personal data. It was in response to this legislative mandate that POTRAZ , in collaboration with HIT, launched the Data Protection Officer Certification Program.
In his remarks on the same occassion, Vice-Chancellor of HIT Prof Engr Quinton Kanhukamwe said the graduation ceremony is a testament to the power of collaboration. On October 25, 2023, HIT and POTRAZ signed a Memorandum of Agreement, a significant step towards their shared goal of promoting training, research, and development on cyber and data protection issues.
” In today’s digital age, the role of a Data Protection Officer is more critical than ever. With the exponential growth of data and the increasing complexity of data privacy regulations, organisations across the globe are in dire need of professionals who can navigate these challenges with expertise and integrity, safeguarding the privacy and security of personal data”, he said.
‘ ‘HIT remains committed to fulfilling the letter and spirit of the MoA and challenges the implementing partners to start collaborating on all aspects of the agreement, including generating academic and white papers tailor-made for Zimbabwe and ultimately generating Intellectual Property”, he added.
On the opening of the training, in her remarks permanent secretary in the ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dr Beullah Chirume emphasised the need of cyber security.
”In today’s digital age, the importance of cyber security cannot be overstated. As we embrace technological advancements, we also face unprecedented challenges. Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and the consequences of inaction can be devastating not just for individuals and businesses, but to our national security”, she said.
”Our nation is increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure, making it imperative that we equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect our information systems and data. This training program is a crucial step in fostering a culture of cyber awareness and resilience”, she added.
On the partnership with Huawei she said,” Our partnership with Huawei is a testament to our commitment to leveraging global expertise in cyber security. Huawei has been at the forefront of technological innovation, and their experience in cyber security solutions will provide invaluable insights to our participants. Together, we aim to build a robust framework that not only addresses current threats but also anticipates future challenges”.
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