MARTIN MAWAYA
VICTORIA FALLS — Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has called for closer collaboration among governments, the media and technology firms to combat the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence powered cybercrime.
The minister warned that cybercriminals were increasingly exploiting AI to launch sophisticated attacks capable of undermining public trust, financial systems and national security.
Addressing delegates at the opening of the 2026 ITU Inter-Regional CyberDrill for Africa and Arab States on Wednesday, Mavetera said deepfakes had emerged as one of the biggest threats facing the digital world, with the potential to spread disinformation, facilitate financial fraud and destabilize societies.
She said deepfakes had been used in fraudulent activities, with fake voice recordings tricking companies into transferring money, while manipulated images and videos were also being used to spread political disinformation and create non-consensual explicit content targeting women.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just about the confidentiality and integrity of systems; it is about the integrity of truth itself,” she said.
Mavetera urged countries to strengthen cyber legislation, deploy deepfake detection technologies and improve media literacy so citizens could verify online content before sharing it.
She also called on countries to share cyber threat intelligence, harmonize legislation and conduct regular cyber drills, saying no nation could effectively confront borderless cyber threats alone.
Mavetera said protecting the benefits of artificial intelligence required equal investment in cybersecurity, public awareness and international cooperation.
