• Government moves to counter surge in AI-enabled cyber fraud

• Mobile money fraud exceeds $30 million annually as attacks rise

• New cybersecurity center and AI-driven tools planned

Zimbabwe has announced new efforts to combat a growing wave of cybercrime powered by artificial intelligence, as authorities warn of rising risks to individuals, businesses, and public systems.

Speaking at the Cyber Fraud and AI Summit 2026 in Nyanga, Information and Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera said cybercriminals are now using advanced tools such as deepfake voice cloning, automated phishing, and adaptive malware.

“The enemy now has artificial intelligence. You cannot fight an intelligent machine with a manual rulebook you must fight AI with AI,” she said.

The warning comes as Zimbabwe’s rapid digital expansion creates new vulnerabilities. Increased internet access, widespread mobile phone use, and the growth of digital financial services have opened the door to more sophisticated attacks.

Authorities estimate that mobile money fraud alone costs the country more than $30 million each year, while phishing and social engineering attacks have risen by over 40% in recent years. Globally, cybercrime is projected to exceed $10 trillion annually, with Africa accounting for more than $4 billion of those losses.

Mavetera stressed that the impact goes beyond financial losses. “Cyber fraud erodes trust in digital systems, and without trust, there is no digital transformation,” she said.

To respond, the government is rolling out a set of institutional and technological measures. A national security operations center is nearing completion, with progress estimated at 85%, and will centralize threat monitoring. A national incident response team is also being set up to coordinate responses to cyberattacks.

In parallel, a national cybersecurity strategy has been finalized and is awaiting cabinet approval. Training programs are already underway to strengthen cybersecurity skills across the population, while authorities are working to tighten legal frameworks to criminalize misuse of AI technologies, including deepfakes and identity fraud.

The government also plans to launch the “Zimbabwe AI Cyber Shield” program within the next year. The initiative will include a centralized AI-based fraud detection platform, training for 10,000 cybersecurity professionals, and a legal framework to guide the ethical use of AI.

At the same time, the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030), introduced in March, aims to harness AI for economic growth while strengthening defenses against emerging digital threats.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Zimbabwe is currently ranked in the fourth tier of the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index, with a score of 39.85 out of 100. While the country performs relatively well on legal frameworks, gaps persist in technical capacity, organizational structures, international cooperation, and skills development.

Mavetera emphasized that tackling cybercrime will require coordinated action across government, the private sector, academia, and citizens.

Isaac K. Kassouwi