New ZCSA Office to Boost Cyber Incident Response

By Alain kabinda

LUSAKA — In an increasingly connected Zambia, the battle to protect citizens, businesses and government institutions is no longer confined to physical borders. It is also being fought across computers, mobile phones, networks and digital platforms.

It is against this changing security landscape that the Zambia Cyber Security Agency (ZCSA) has opened a new office in Lusaka, signalling a renewed effort to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats.

Speaking during the official opening of the ZCSA’s offices in Lusaka, ZCSA Director General Dr. Schmidt Shilukobo Chintu, stated that the new premises represent more than just a change of address. They provide the Agency with an opportunity to bring its different functions together, improve coordination and respond more effectively to incidents in cyberspace.

Dr. Chintu said, ZCSA had previously been operating from government offices owned by the Smart Zambia Institute. While the arrangement provided accommodation, the available space could not adequately accommodate all the Agency’s staff and functions.

He expressed gratitude to the sister organisation Smart Zambia for providing the temporary accommodation as ZCSA worked towards establishing its own operational space.

The new office now gives the Agency an opportunity to operate as a full team from a single location.

For an institution tasked with responding to cyber incidents, this physical coordination could prove important.

Cyber threats do not necessarily occur according to office hours or organisational boundaries. A compromised system, fraudulent transaction or cyberattack can require rapid communication between technical teams and other stakeholders.

Dr. Chintu believes the new facility will help remove some of the constraints that previously affected the Agency’s operations.

He also said having a clear physical address would make it easier for members of the public and organisations to locate ZCSA and report cyber incidents.

One of the important aspects of ZCSA’s mandate is that cybersecurity is not only a government concern.

The Agency serves government institutions, private companies and individual users who increasingly depend on digital platforms for communication, commerce, financial transactions and access to services.

Dr. Chintu describes this interconnected digital environment as an ecosystem.

“Just as a natural ecosystem requires the right conditions for different forms of life to grow, he argues that the digital ecosystem must also be secure if Zambia is to fully benefit from technology,” Dr. Chintu said.

He also stated that Businesses can transact online with greater confidence. Government can expand digital services. Individuals can use technology without constantly fearing that their information or resources will be compromised.

But without adequate protection, the same digital platforms that create opportunities can also expose users to fraud, identity theft, cyberattacks and other forms of online abuse.

While ZCSA is strengthening its institutional capacity, the Agency says the public also has an important role to play in protecting Zambia’s cyberspace.

Dr. Chintu has urged citizens to become more knowledgeable about common cyber threats and to avoid being easily deceived online.

The message comes as scammers continue to exploit people’s desire for quick financial gains through suspicious online offers, messages and links.

A promise of making large amounts of money with little effort can sometimes be the beginning of a much bigger problem.

ZCSA is therefore encouraging individuals to think carefully before sharing personal information, clicking suspicious links, sending money or responding to unsolicited online offers.

The Agency believes that a more informed public can prevent many incidents before they reach the point where intervention becomes necessary.

The opening of the new office also comes with a broader recognition that cybersecurity is increasingly linked to national security.

Government institutions, businesses and citizens now depend heavily on digital systems. As Zambia advances its digital transformation agenda, the potential impact of attacks against critical information infrastructure also grows.

And meanwhile Mr. Guota Suresh, who confirmed the official handover of the office to ZCSA, said the development demonstrated government’s commitment to treating cybersecurity as part of national security.

“This office space is given to ZCSA to start operating. It is a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to prioritise cyber security as part of national security,” he said.

The statement places the new facility within a much larger national agenda: securing the systems upon which Zambia’s digital future increasingly depends.

For ZCSA, the new office is ultimately about creating a safer environment in which technology can deliver its promised benefits.

The Agency wants citizens to be able to use digital services, businesses to innovate and government institutions to provide services online without exposing users to unnecessary risks.

It requires skilled personnel, effective coordination, public awareness, responsible digital behaviour and cooperation between government, businesses, security institutions and ordinary users.

The new Lusaka office provides ZCSA with a stronger operational base. The bigger challenge, however, remains ensuring that Zambia’s expanding digital ecosystem grows securely.

As more services move online and more people become connected, cybersecurity will increasingly become a shared responsibility.

For ZCSA, the message is clear: protecting Zambia’s digital future will require not only stronger institutions, but also a more informed and vigilant digital citizenry.

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