Digital threats … Cyber security stands as Zimbabwe’s stalwart guardian against the encroachment of corruption in the digital age.

NESTLED in the lush, green heart of Africa, Zimbabwe boasts a rich tapestry of cultures and breathtaking landscapes, fertile soil and strong people.

Yet, as this resilient nation marches forward, it confronts two formidable challenges that define our era: the relentless spectre of corruption and the ever-evolving landscape of cyber security threats.

In this captivating journey, as we commemorate Cyber Awareness Month we will examine the intricacies of Zimbabwe’s struggle to fortify its digital borders, refine its statecraft, and craft resilient strategies to combat corruption amidst a complex cyber landscape and the inherent threats posed to its stability and prosperity.

A crack in the crystal

Until recently, cyber attacks against the private sector were skyrocketing year-over-year in terms of direct cost and sheer volume. Now, critical infrastructure is seemingly under constant attack, from the energy sector and the power grid to the financial, nuclear, and even health sectors.

Most of these intrusions are likely simple attempts at positioning for real attacks — including full-scale cyber war — a way of testing vulnerability and response. A scaled operation executed by sophisticated attackers would easily bleed the cloud and deny, degrade, or destroy the information currently housed in computers and networks, disrupting everything from the economy to supply chains to national defence to air travel.

Such attacks have the potential to cripple the technological systems upon which we have become reliant, but a worst-possible scenario would see cyber attacks as a forerunner to conventional assaults targeting critical physical infrastructure, natural resources and those in positions of local and national power. The country could be thrown into darkness in a matter of hours.

Complicating these risks is the fact that corruption in Zimbabwe has seamlessly transitioned into the digital realm, leaving an indelible stain on the nation’s…