Mbabane – Minister of Information, Communications and Technology Senator Savannah Maziya has officially launched National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, calling on emaSwati to take greater responsibility for protecting themselves against online scams, identity theft and other cyber threats.
The Minister launched the month-long campaign on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini under the theme “Tivikele, Stay Safe Online.”
She said the campaign would take cybersecurity awareness to communities, businesses and schools as the country becomes increasingly dependent on digital technology.
Maziya said the Ministry, in partnership with the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM), would conduct awareness campaigns across various media and social media platforms, workshops to upskill professionals and small business owners, and school visits.
“Our youth are digital natives, but being born in the digital age does not automatically make one immune to cyberbullying, online predators, or digital scams,” Maziya said.
She said citizens needed to protect their passwords, verify links before clicking them and guard their personal information.
Maziya urged emaSwati to stop, think and verify before clicking links, opening attachments, sharing personal information or responding to messages requesting money.
She said fraudsters were becoming increasingly sophisticated and continuously changing the methods they used to target unsuspecting members of the public.
Maziya also warned the public about scams circulating through social media, messaging platforms and mobile phones, including schemes commonly referred to as “BOFACATA.”
As part of strengthening the country’s cybersecurity framework, Maziya announced that the Ministry had commenced the process of reviewing the National Cybersecurity Strategy.
She said cybersecurity was not solely the responsibility of Government, the police, telecommunications companies, banks or technology professionals, but required collective responsibility.
“The government cannot secure Eswatini’s cyberspace alone, we all need to work together,” Maziya said.
Director of Public Prosecutions Lomvula Hlophe said the campaign was relevant as individuals and companies continued to report cases of losing money to criminals.
She said the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act No. 6 of 2022 provided an important legal framework for dealing with offences committed through or against computer systems and networks.
Hlophe said the Directorate had dealt with cases involving illegal access to computer systems, illegal data interference and illegal system interference, as well as guided search and seizure investigations under the Act.
She said the Directorate had prioritised strengthening its capacity to guide investigations, prosecute cybercrime and support the adjudication of cybercrime cases.
According to Hlophe, the Directorate had established a Cybercrime Unit at its headquarters to focus on cybercrime matters.
She said prosecutors had been trained on the provisions and practical application of the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act, with assistance from the Ministry of ICT and ESCCOM.
Hlophe said the Directorate had also strengthened prosecutors’ awareness of electronic evidence, digital forensics, chain-of-custody requirements and cyber-enabled crimes through regional and international capacity-building programmes.
She said the Directorate was working with law enforcement agencies, the National Cyber Incident Response Team, digital forensic experts and other stakeholders to strengthen cybercrime investigations and prosecutions.
Hlophe said cybercrime was borderless while prosecution remained constrained by national boundaries, making information sharing and cooperation with counterparts in other jurisdictions important.
She said the Directorate had continued strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies, regulators, telecommunications operators, financial institutions and cybersecurity practitioners.
Hlophe also encouraged citizens, businesses and institutions to report cybercrime promptly, saying many incidents went unreported and this limited opportunities to investigate and prosecute offenders.
She said cybercrime continued to evolve from online fraud and identity theft to business email compromise and attacks on critical infrastructure.
Hlophe said continuous capacity building for prosecutors, investigators, digital forensic practitioners and judicial officers was therefore essential.
Maziya said Eswatini’s digital future depended on creating a foundation of trust and security as the country pursued a technology-driven economy.
She said the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month would provide an opportunity for citizens to educate themselves, their families and colleagues and build a culture of cyber resilience.
She officially declared the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month launched, urging emaSwati to embrace the message: “Tivikele! Stay Safe Online.”
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