The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), in collaboration with the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESSCOM), has stepped up efforts to strengthen national cyber resilience and child protection.
This was revealed by the Acting Communications Director at the Ministry of ICT, Sakhile Dlamini, while speaking at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel during the start of a two-day Development of the National CSIRT Action Plan & Training Programme for Eswatini.
Dlamini said that after witnessing a surge in online bullying among the youth, as well as recent cyber-attacks such as the malware incident that affected certain organisations in Eswatini, the government is prioritising the protection of emaSwati in both public and private digital spaces.
He noted that these developments have pushed the ministry to enhance frameworks that safeguard children, adults, and companies online.
“We are also trying to strengthen online child protection frameworks in response to the rising threat of cyberbullying. With that as the backdrop, we have decided to host this cybersecurity workshop,” he said.
The workshop, sponsored by the World Bank and supported by European experts from Latvia, aims at building capacity among cybersecurity and IT professionals across government and private institutions. It focuses on strengthening the operational effectiveness of Eswatini’s planned Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), a specialised unit responsible for coordinating responses to cyber threats and attacks.
“Because the cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing, we must continuously skill and upskill ourselves, companies, and members of the public to understand and mitigate new risks,” Dlamini said. “Through initiatives such as Government in Your Hands, we remain committed to ensuring that citizens’ data and information are protected.”
Dlamini mentioned that the workshop’s agenda includes practical sessions on CSIRT management, technical infrastructure, and the daily functioning of cyber incident response, with contributions from experts Marius Urkis (CSIRT/SOC Architect) and Arunas Venclovas (Product Development Director).
The training introduced participants to the Cyber Security Assessment Tool (CSAT), which measures how well organisations are prepared against cyber threats.
“In addition to this workshop, we are working with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office to look at ways of protecting children online,” he said. “We wish to educate parents to link their devices with the child’s device so that if a child wishes to explore the internet, they first need permission from the adult. This will help us develop more online child safety programmes to reduce cyberbullying.”
Dlamini added that Eswatini has already made significant progress in establishing a legal framework through the Data Protection Act of 2022, which criminalises cybercrimes and provides safeguards against online threats. However, he noted that legislation alone is not enough, and ongoing skills development and awareness campaigns remain crucial.
Globally, cyber-attacks continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, and Eswatini has not been immune. Recent malware attacks against local companies serve as a reminder of the urgent need for robust cyber defences.