The much talked about launch of the Special Joint Cyber-Crime Crack Squad that was unveiled by Communications minister, Brian Mushimba in February this year has not been operationalized or may be operating as a secret agency.
This came to light after the Zambian Business Times – ZBT analysts efforts to get a response from the team proved futile as both the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority – ZICTA and Zambia Police could not give any contact person to respond to the efforts made to verify the social media reports that Bank of Zambia had lost K68million of newly printed notes.
ZICTA in response to a ZBT query stated that as an authority, they are not mandated or neither are they the right institution to behandling cyber-crime issues that escalate on social media and online platforms.
Earlier in the week, Bank of Zambia governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya had described the news of the missing new notes valued at K68 million (about US$5.6 million) as fake news generated by social media abusers.
The cash is said to have been shipped from Munich Germany by a printing company Giesecke Devrient last week. Dr. Kalyalya said the information is fake as the Central Bank does not give instructions to issue bank notes without consultations with key stakeholders.
ZICTA Corporate Communications Manager N’gabo Nankonde told Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the authority does not handle social media criminal cases.
“ZICTA is not mandated to handle social media criminal cases, we just work in hand with the Zambia police and other key stakeholders to aid investigate and bring perpetrators to book,” she said.
She further acknowledged that levels of carelessness and irresponsibility of some members of the public on social media is worrisome hence urged members of the public to take keen interest in verifying social media information from the authorities or the institution involved in order to lessen cases of fake news.
She however said that ZICTA has put in place measures of awareness to fight cyber-crime cases and has some sensitization programmes to ensure online protection.
“The authority is creating awareness to members of the public because issues of fake news are escalating and you may be all aware that this issue is not only isolated to Zambia, but other countries are being affected too hence it has become a big challenge to most countries,” she said.
A further check with the Zambia Police through the Deputy Police Spokesperson Rae Hammonga confirmed that the role is to fight crime and prosecute those found wanting lies with the Police.
He added that mandate of regulating cyber-crimes is done hand in hand with ZICTA. Hamoong has attribute to the case of BOZ where it is allegedly been accused of misplacing K68 million as an unpleasing act by some individuals who just decide to circulate information without gathering facts and that Police will pursue the matter and bring culprits to book.
Hamoonga added that the commission has police officers on the joint task who are trained to be able to track down perpetrators and have them persecuted. He has further warned those involved in social media scams to end such elicit activities as cyber-crime is a crime like any other and invites a penalty of over 10 years imprisonment.
When asked who the contact person for the Special Cyber-Crime Crack Squad is, he referred the matter to the Police Spokesperson, Theresa Katongo, Who also was unavailable to respond to the ZBT press query by press time.
