Zimbabwe’s Struggle for Better CyberSecurity Defense, Improved with Japan’s Aid

It is fairly common for a first world country to extend its foreign aid to a 3rd world nation, especially in the sectors of food security, education, and infrastructure funding. However, a foreign aid focusing on improving the cybersecurity defense of a 3rd world nation is a very commendable action, as it does not happen often. That was exactly what Japan did recently, as it extended Zimbabwe, a remote African state, a $3.6 million cybersecurity foreign aid.

Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister, Mthuli Ncube is elated to receive the good news, as the grant is a very nice display of Japan’s solidarity with Zimbabwe’s poor cybersecurity defense infrastructure. “I am therefore grateful for the grant aid support from the government of Japan amounting to 390 million Japanese Yen (about $3.6 million) towards the procurement of cybercrime equipment. The grant will provide for the procurement of services necessary for the procurement and transportation of the product and training and other necessary services for the operation and maintenance of equipment for enhancing the ability to counter terrorism and public security,” enthusiastically said by Ncube.

The computer equipment received from Japan will be distributed to the offices of Zimbabwe Police force and will help strengthen its communication with the South African Interpol located at Harare. Zimbabwe as a country has its fair share of cybersecurity concerns to a very serious level, it even forces its congress to legislate an anti-cybercrime law for the nation.

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Toshiyuki Iwado reiterate Japan’s commitment to further help enforce Zimbabwe’s readiness as a good bilateral partner today and in the future. The ambassador believes that improvement of Zimbabwe’s cybersecurity defense help ushers the country to a better economic standing in the long term.