19 Sep 2022

Failure to keep important personal data safe can have dire consequences. 

It can start with losing an identity card, leaving an email account unlocked, being enticed by high- return investment promises, online dating or sharing too much information on social media. 

These lapses are opportunities that scammers use to swindle people out of their hard-earned money. 

 In an interview on the sidelines of the 6^th African Cyber Crime conference held in Gaborone recently, Chief Executive Officer of African Cyber Security, Mr Chris Johnson said there was a need to sustain conversation on fighting cybercrime. 

“What happens when you lose your personal data? Someone can impersonate you and get money from micro lenders or even make duplicate copies of your property,” he said. 

According to the African Cyber report of 2018 a whopping P300 million was estimated to have been lost to cybercrime in Botswana. 

The report further says that 35 per cent of the cyber-crime that happens in Botswana ends up being unreported to the police. 

And only five per cent of the reported cases led to successfully prosecution. 

This, he said called for the need to build skills and sustain conversation, as data protection was key to keeping scammers away. 

However, according to the cyber report, the country was faced with shortage of highly technical skilled people. 

Also in short supply are technicians who can design secure systems, write safe computer code and create the ever more sophisticated tools needed to anticipate, detect, respond and contain cyber threats. 

According to Mr Johnson, addressing the existing cyber security gaps is core, as cyber security is critical to the attainment of vision 2036 aspirations of the country to transcend to the high income status, as well as embracing the fourth industrial revolution. 

“Cyber security is an enabler for the development of the application to bring services online, without cyber security it is impossible to do this,” he said. 

Nonetheless, he was hopeful the country’s national cyber security strategy was a step in the right direction. 

The strategy, among others intends to create a resilient, safe and secure ICT operational environment. 

The strategy targets members of the public, industry, international partners and the government, through providing awareness to members of the public on threats, risks in the cyberspace and interventions. 

Giving the strategy overview, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology Mr Cecil Masiga said ownership of the strategy was critical. 

On shortage of professionals, Mr Masiga said it was estimated that in five years the country would need 5 000 professionals whereas there were currently only 200 professionals. 

And to address some of the cyber security challenges, he said the ministry was working with European Union under the Cyber Resilience for the Development Programme to assist in implementing some the action items under the National Cybersecurity Strategy. 

Further, he said the police were already operating the Digital Forensic Laboratory, which already was facilitating them with electronic evidence in courts. 

Meanwhile  eGovernment Coordinator, Mr Pontsho Pusoetsile said the country was making progress regarding implementation of the Data Protection Act passed in 2018 and there was preparedness to implement the law. ENDS