Govt Moves to Cut Cost of Data Protection Training Amid Rising Cyber Threats

09 May 2025

By Charity Chikara

Government is considering reducing the cost of training for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) as part of efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s cybersecurity framework.

Speaking at the opening of the inaugural Strategy Execution Advisory Talk (SEAT) Africa Summit in Victoria Falls, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera said consultations are underway through POTRAZ to make the US$1,250 course more affordable.

“I mentioned the issue of our DPOs and this is a process we are handling now through POTRAZ. We are negotiating to bring the cost down, making it more accessible. Since this is a statutory requirement, we must review the pricing to ensure it’s affordable for everyone,” she said.

Zimbabwe is currently ranked 134th globally in exposure to cyber threats.

Minister Mavetera added that insights from the summit will inform policy reforms in procurement and digital governance.

SEAT Africa Chairperson Victor Marawu said the summit is already yielding actionable insights for businesses and that a report compiling these will be distributed across Africa over the next 12 months.

The three-day summit has attracted participants from over six countries, including Botswana, Rwanda, and Ghana.