….Over K100 Million Lost to Online Scams: Government Moves to Shield MPs and Public from Cyber Fraud
By Cleopatra Nankonde
The Government has disclosed that Zambia lost over K111 million in just six months to cyber-related fraud, prompting swift action to protect Members of Parliament and the general public from growing online scams.
In a joint ministerial statement to Parliament, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, and Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, revealed that 874 cybercrime cases were reported between January and June 2025. These include impersonation, phishing scams, cyberbullying, and online fraud — many of which involved fake social media accounts impersonating MPs to swindle the public through fake job offers and empowerment schemes.
Out of these cases, 116 are before the courts while 758 remain under active investigation. “This reflects growing public confidence in reporting such crimes,” Minister Mwiimbu said.
In response, the Government has operationalized the Cyber Crimes Act and Cyber Security Act, both of which came into effect on May 12, 2025. These laws empower law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute cyber offenders while safeguarding victims.
Key measures include the deployment of trained cybercrime officers in all provinces, deactivation of over 10,000 suspicious SIM cards, and cooperation with Meta (Facebook) to verify official pages of MPs. A national anti-fraud campaign is set for August.
The public is also encouraged to report suspicious mobile numbers via the 707# platform and activate two-factor authentication on social media.
“This is no longer just a technology issue,” said Hon. Mutati. “It is now a matter of national security and public trust.”
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to making Zambia’s digital space safer for both citizens and public officials.
