Zambia’s government has launched the country’s first-ever cyber security laboratory.

Law enforcement agencies in the country are expected to use the facility to combat information and communications technologies (ICT) crimes in the country.

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), the country’s telecom sector regulator, funded the procurement of the equipment for the laboratory on behalf of the Zambian government and security agencies.

The laboratory, based at the Zambia Police headquarters in the capital Lusaka, was launched by the visiting International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deputy secretary general Houlin Zhao.

He said cybercrime is a fast growing phenomenon as more criminals exploit connectivity, convenience and anonymity of the internet to commit crimes that have no borders.
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Zhao said he was confident that the laboratory, coupled with ongoing international coordination and collaboration, could help build confidence among security wings in the use of ICT for all.

“As a result of increased expertise and number of attackers, the laboratory will have a key role to play in supporting the government in addressing cyber security related issues at the national and regional levels as well as the global level,” Zhao said.