Lack of local cybercrime experts delays cybercrime bill

THE lack of local expertise in cyberlaw is one of the reasons for the delay in the drafting of the cybercrime bill.

Minister of information and communication and technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus says the bill’s drafting is still underway and is making progress.

“The delay has been due to a lack of local expertise in cyberlaw, a challenge we also encountered with the data protection bill,” she says.

Theofelus says there is an urgent need to build national capacity in ICT legislation.

She says the ministry is open to support and collaborate on any project focused on strengthening legal and policy capacity in the digital space.

“Without this, we cannot thrive in the digital economy,” she says.

Theofelus was speaking at the Namibia International CyberSecurity Conference and Exhibition in Windhoek last Wednesday.

The minister also launched the Scam Report Namibia mobile application.

“This is a proudly Namibian innovation. This app allows citizens to report scams, receive real-time alerts and access tips to stay safe online.

It’s not just a tool; it is an investor-ready digital solution designed to tackle cyberthreats at the grassroots level,” she said.

Theofelus announced that the ministry will be launching an ‘Ethical Use of Social Media’ campaign.

“Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue; it is also a matter of ethics.

The way we engage with each other reflects our values as a society.

The national ‘Ethical Use of Social Media’ campaign will encourage responsible digital citizenship and protect vulnerable groups from abuse,” she said.

Conference organising committee chairperson Paulinus Sheehama said this year’s event was hosted under the theme ‘Building Namibia’s Digital Future: Collaboration, Innovation, and Capacity Building’.

Sheehama said the purpose of the conference was to create a space where experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders come together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships that will strengthen the collective ability to safeguard Namibia’s digital landscape.

“It is a forum to tackle hard questions, learn from global best practices, and craft solutions that are rooted in our local realities,” she said.

The conference will be hosted yearly going forward.

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