, , , ICT Minister says data sovereignty key to visitor confidence as Government rolls out Cyber Security Strategy
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
MASVINGO — Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, said Thursday that Government has put in place a robust framework to ensure data sovereignty and protect information collected from tourists visiting Zimbabwe.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, Mavetera stressed that tourist confidence depends on how safely their information is handled.
“For our tourists, we believe that when they come into Zimbabwe they want to be protected. Whatever information that they’re going to send on various platforms needs to be protected,” Mavetera said.
She said existing regulations already hold data controllers accountable.
“Within our framework, within our regulations that we’ve put in place, we already have a robust framework which makes sure that we bring people accountable to holding people’s data,” Mavetera added.
The Minister said Government is strengthening implementation through the National Cyber Security Strategy.
“Within our cyber security strategy, we also have set up a team… and already we’ve put in place a Security Operation Centre,” she noted.
Mavetera added that a Cyber Incident Response Team is being constituted, with dedicated units to be set up in key economic sectors.
“Our Cyber Incident Response Team will also then be constituted in the Ministry of Tourism and various other sectors of the economy which we believe are important for us to make sure that we become progressive as a country,” Mavetera said.
She listed tourism among the bedrock sectors of NDS2 that require strong digital governance, alongside agriculture, mining and the creative industries.
“We have got sectors that have really bedrocked our NDS2 which include the Ministry of Tourism, or Tourism as a sector.
“So these are also part of the people that work together within our whole ecosystem for the adoption of AI as a country,” she said.
The remarks come as Government pushes to digitise tourism services, from bookings to visitor management, under Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe.
Industry players say secure data handling is critical to boosting online bookings, visitor statistics and investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s hospitality sector.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi attributed Zimbabwe’s surge in tourist arrivals to the country’s security and safety mechanisms.
“Tourists have confidence with Zimbabwe’s security and safety mechanisms or infrastructure existing countrywide.
“This has made them enjoy their long stays whilst choosing Zimbabwe as best destination,” Rwodzi said while responding to a question on why Zimbabwe continues to record a surge in tourist arrivals.
Mavetera’s message aligns with the broader Government position at the Expo: that Zimbabwe must pair tourism growth with strong governance of data to protect both citizens and international visitors.
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