By NCHIMUNYA MIYOBA
President Edgar Lungu has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to train officers in cyber security to curb escalating cyber-crimes in the country owing to the advances in information and communication technologies.
President Lungu said the technology advancement has provided criminal gangs, agents of neocolonialism and their political allies with a new covert means of undertaking illicit activities such as creating chaos in resource rich African countries to gain access to the natural resource.
Speaking during the Zambia Police School of public order and Maintenance pass out in Kitwe today, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo who was speaking on behalf of the Head of State said, security wings should play a part and ensure security threats that come through cyber space are curbed.
“Identifying security threats that come through the cyber space goes beyond technical knowledge. Awareness of the goals of the different interest groups that fund and promote particular organizations and interest groups in the Country is critical to averting potential security threats,” he said.
The head of state emphasized that the growing rapid changes in the information and communication technologies require continuous training of security personnel so that they stay abreast with the changes.
President Lungu said the growing criminal abuse of information and communication technologies is posing a new threat in the country.
He said the recent riots in Chamboli Township were necessitated by falsehoods brought about by new technologies amongst other means.
Mr Lungu said that training of security officers in cyber security is an urgent matter that cannot wait and as such officers that will be selected for training must be selected on merit with good grades in mathematics and sciences.
President Lungu stated that to enhance the capacity and presence of the Zambia Police service in cyber space there is need for well-trained officers in information communication technology.
And Inspector of General of Police Kakoma Kanganja Said the 693 officers that have graduated will mitigate manpower deficit that the service is facing.
Mr Kanganja said the service will now be able to cope with increasing crime trends triggered by increase in population in the country.
He said this year’s graduation had more women than men graduating where he said the women competed favourably with the men counterparts.
Mr Kanganja disclosed that this year’s 401 women trained in unprecedented and the first of its kind compared to 292 men trained.
“Despite the challenge posed to the male recruits by the women folk, the men tried their best and put up a spirited fight to avoid being put to shame by the women. This is the kind of competition required if the institution is to be steered to greater heights,” he added.
