Gweru City Council earns Potraz cybersecurity certification

GWERU City Council (GCC) has been certified by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) after meeting national regulatory standards in cybersecurity and data protection.

The certification enables the local authority to fully enforce and comply with national cyber laws, particularly the Cyber and Data Protection Act of Zimbabwe.

GCC spokesperson, Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee, confirmed the development.

“Gweru City Council has received certification from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) for meeting regulatory standards in cybersecurity and data protection,” she said.

Ms Chingwaramusee said the certification provides assurance to residents and ratepayers that their personal and sensitive information — including billing details and service records — is now protected in accordance with statutory requirements.

“It will also help the council align its operations with cyber laws, enhancing controls on system access, database security and information sharing,” she noted.

She said the local authority would implement measures such as controlled user privileges, secure data storage, routine system audits and enhanced monitoring to prevent unauthorised access.

“It will also outline privacy policies on its website and intensify employee training and resident awareness campaigns on data protection, cyber bullying, and information security,” she said.

Ms Chingwaramusee said the certification supports national efforts to establish safe digital environments while promoting accountability and transparency in the use of technology.

“We are now positioned to safeguard critical information and support the enforcement of cyber laws, ensuring the city’s digital transformation benefits residents without exposing them to cyber risks,” she said.

She added that the local authority was making progress towards its vision of becoming “A People-Centred and Globally Competitive Smart City”, with the ICT department driving this transformation.
She said the council was committed to using technology to improve service delivery and enhance the city’s liveability.

“The council’s efforts are centred on automating manual systems to make service provision quicker, more efficient, and transparent. As a council, we are making efforts towards capacitating our internal systems and staff on online service provision,” she said.

A key component of this digital transformation, Ms Chingwaramusee said, is the implementation of enterprise Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, which will enable the council to respond rapidly to emergencies such as sewer bursts, water pipe failures and other critical incidents across the city.

She said the system will improve the council’s ability to monitor and respond to incidents in real time, thereby enhancing service delivery.

“The ICT section is also collaborating with GIZ on a digital drive aimed at spearheading the digitisation of key municipal operations. This includes the introduction of electronic billing systems, advanced revenue management systems, and integrated databases as part of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that allows different departments to share information seamlessly,” she added.

These initiatives, she said, are expected to deliver positive results through faster turnaround times, fewer errors and improved accountability across council operations.

“The drive towards a smart city is not just about technology; it’s about creating a more efficient, responsive, and transparent system that benefits residents. By leveraging technology, the council aims to improve the overall quality of life for Gweru’s citizens, making the city more attractive to investors, businesses, and visitors alike,” she said.