Allexer Namundjembo
Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus has announced new national efforts to address rising cybersecurity threats.
She spoke during a cybersecurity conference and exhibition held in Windhoek last week, which brought together cybersecurity experts, government officials, industry leaders, and civil society.
Theofelus said the country must take a united approach to tackle cybercrime, scams, digital fraud, and cyberbullying.
“The evolving nature of cyber threats demands vigilance, innovation, and collaboration across all parts of society,” she said.
“It is crucial that the public and private sectors, academia, and young innovators come together not only to discuss problems but to build effective solutions.”
She launched CyberShield Magazine, a new platform for sharing ideas on cybersecurity leadership and innovation.
“This magazine will serve as a vital resource for knowledge and advocacy,” she said, encouraging the public to contribute to and support it.
The minister also unveiled the Scam Report Namibia mobile app, a local tool that allows users to report scams, receive real-time alerts, and access safety tips.
“This application is more than a tool; it is a ready-to-scale digital solution designed to combat cyber threats at the grassroots,” she said.
Weekly online public sessions and organisational training programmes are also being rolled out to raise awareness on cybersecurity.
On the legislative front, Theofelus said work on the Cybercrime Bill has been delayed due to a lack of local cyber law expertise.
“Strengthening our national capacity in ICT legislation is urgent,” she said, noting that the ministry welcomes partnerships to build skills in this area.
She announced plans for a National Ethical Use of Social Media Campaign aimed at promoting responsible online behaviour and protecting vulnerable communities.
“Cybersecurity is not only a technical matter, it is fundamentally an ethical one. How we interact online reflects the values we uphold as a society,” Theofelus said.
She thanked both local and international cybersecurity experts in attendance and urged them to share their expertise and build networks to help create a safer digital future.
“Together, we will build a Namibia where digital technology’s promise is matched by everyone’s power of digital trust and security,” she said.
Namibia has faced a series of serious cyberattacks over the past year. In December 2024, Telecom Namibia was hit by a ransomware attack linked to the Hunters International group. The breach exposed over 400,000 customer records, including bank details and personal data tied to government officials.
That same month, the ministry of health and social services experienced a breach in its Pharmaceutical Management Information System.
The attack exposed health worker information and aggregated medicine stock data, but no patient records were compromised.
In February 2025, the Akira ransomware group targeted Paratus Namibia, compromising 84 GB of corporate data.
A month later, the Otjiwarongo Municipality was attacked in a similar ransomware incident that involved data theft and ransom demands.
The Namibian Computer Security Incident Response Team (Nam-CSIRT) is investigating the case.
The series of breaches has highlighted the country’s digital vulnerabilities and the urgent need for stronger laws, better systems, and more skilled cybersecurity professionals.
