derick.khumalo
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
CELEBRATING Zimbabwe’s digital transformation without addressing the risks that accompany it would be an exercise in futility, Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti has said.
Speaking at the National Child Protection Conference in Bulawayo on Friday, Deputy Minister Phuti said while Zimbabwe had made remarkable progress in expanding access to information and communication technologies, the digital space had also exposed children to serious risks that require urgent intervention.
“We would be remiss in our duty if we celebrated this progress without confronting the shadows that come with it. The very platforms that open the world to our children are equally capable of exposing them to exploitation, abuse, radicalisation and harm. These risks are neither marginal nor hypothetical, but documented, escalating and demanding urgent collective action,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
He said Zimbabwe’s internet penetration rate now stands at 87,39 percent, broadband penetration at 85,83 percent and mobile penetration at 108,53 percent, with mobile technology becoming the primary gateway to connectivity for most citizens.
“This digital transformation agenda is a source of great pride for the nation as it opens doors to education, innovation, financial inclusion and opportunities that were unimaginable a generation ago. Our children are growing up as digital natives, learning, playing and reaching out to the world through devices that fit in the palm of their hands,” he said.
Deputy Minister Phuti, however, warned that increased connectivity had also heightened children’s exposure to cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse, harmful content and the misuse of personal data.
“Globally, hundreds of millions of children fall victim to online sexual abuse and exploitation each year. Zimbabwe is not immune to this reality. The absence, until now, of a dedicated national policy to guide our response to child online protection issues has left a critical gap in our protective architecture for children,” he said.
He said the launch of the National Child Online Protection Policy was founded on the principles of safety by design, safety by default and the best interests of the child.
“These are not aspirations; they are obligations. Protecting our children online is not the task of Government alone, but a shared responsibility that binds parents, guardians, educators, technology companies, internet service providers, law enforcement agencies, civil society and children themselves into a single chain of accountability,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
He said the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services would continue strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for cyber security and child protection while working closely with the Zimbabwe Child Online Protection Committee and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the policy.
Deputy Minister Phuti said the policy would be continuously monitored and adapted to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring that Zimbabwean children can safely benefit from the opportunities presented by modern technology.
Online Reporter