Tinotenda Hove- The government says it has trained more than 10,000 young Zimbabweans in ethical hacking and cyber defence, but critics are already questioning whether the ambitious programme will produce real jobs or simply become another headline-grabbing announcement with little public accountability.

According to the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, the training initiative forms part of a broader national cybersecurity strategy aimed at protecting digital systems and preparing the country for emerging cyber threats.

Ethical hacking involves authorised testing of computer systems to identify weaknesses before criminals can exploit them.

The announcement was made during the 2nd Africa Preparatory Meeting for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) held in Victoria Falls, where government officials spoke confidently about Zimbabwe’s digital ambitions despite ongoing concerns over unemployment, poor internet infrastructure and limited technological resources in many parts of the country.

ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, who was represented by Deputy Minister Dingimuzi Phuti, claimed the programme would strengthen national security while also creating business opportunities for young people.

“Cyber threats are borderless. Zimbabwe has completed a comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy to protect our digital assets, critical infrastructure, and citizens’ data,” said Mavetera.
“We are training over 10,000 young Zimbabweans in ethical hacking and cyber-defence, turning a vulnerability into a national export opportunity.”

However, the announcement has triggered skepticism from observers who argue that government officials often unveil grand digital transformation projects without clearly explaining funding, implementation details or measurable outcomes.

Questions are also being raised over whether Zimbabwe’s struggling economy can realistically absorb thousands of newly trained cybersecurity specialists, especially when many graduates in other sectors continue to face unemployment.

The three-day conference brought together delegates from across Africa to discuss cybersecurity regulations, artificial intelligence governance, spectrum management and internet access ahead of the global ITU Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled for later this year.