Maputo, Oct. 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique is set to update its National Cybersecurity Strategy to implement the new legislation governing the sector and ensure it is mature, the government announced on Thursday, setting out priorities, targets, responsibilities and monitoring mechanisms.
«The update of the National Cybersecurity Strategy for the period 2026–2030 is currently underway, and this will serve as the main instrument for implementing the Cybersecurity Act,» said the minister for communications and digital transformation, Américo Muchanga, in Maputo.
Speaking at the launch ceremony for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the minister explained that the document will translate the legislation's obligations into concrete initiatives, measurable targets, performance indicators, monitoring mechanisms and resources for implementation.
Figures presented today indicate that Mozambique recorded around 39,600 cyber incidents in 2025, with a particular focus on electronic payment fraud and computer fraud, which are among the most frequent cybercrimes analysed by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
According to Muchanga, the new strategy is expected to mark the country's transition from building basic capabilities to greater institutional maturity, resilience and digital trust.
«In this new cycle of the strategy, our country should evolve from the phase of establishing basic capabilities to a phase of greater maturity, resilience and digital trust,» he said.
The minister also highlighted the need to strengthen protection for Critical Information Infrastructure, including sectors considered strategic to the country's functioning, such as energy, telecommunications, transport, health, finance and public safety.
According to the minister, securing these systems is fundamental to ensuring the continuity of essential services and the normal functioning of the economy and society.
«In this regard, we urge the bodies responsible for managing these infrastructures to speed up the establishment and operationalisation of their respective Cybersecurity Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) and to adopt preventive and proactive measures to ensure their security, resilience and operational continuity,» he urged.
Muchanga also advocated promoting a culture of cybersecurity within society, arguing that raising public awareness is essential to strengthen the capacity to prevent, detect and respond to threats in the digital sphere.
«It is not enough simply to be connected; we need to be securely connected, prepared for the risks and aware of our responsibilities in the digital sphere,» he emphasised.
The minister also called on educational institutions to strengthen the integration of cyber security into academic curricula, noting that training specialist staff and conducting scientific research will be crucial to addressing the growing challenges of digital transformation.
He added that protecting citizens, particularly children and young people, from the risks of the digital environment requires coordinated action between the state, academia, the private sector and civil society.
«Each of us has a role to play in preventing risks, protecting people and organisations, and strengthening our country's digital resilience and sovereignty,» he concluded.
The strategy update comes just a few months after Mozambican President Daniel Chapo enacted the Cyber Security and Cybercrime Acts on 12 June; the laws aim to strengthen the protection of citizens, state institutions and digital data, with penalties of up to 160 times the minimum wage.
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