Participating in the Africa School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) 2025 in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, marked a significant milestone in my professional journey as a fraud and cybercrime investigator. The weeklong forum was convened by diverse stakeholders to deliberate on how robust data governance can enable a secure, inclusive and rights-based digital future for Africa.
My contributions focused on bridging the gap between cybersecurity policy, digital rights and investigative practice. I highlighted the pressing need for African countries to harmonise legal frameworks or cyber laws and strengthen institutional capacity to effectively address evolving digital threats. Drawing from Zambia’s legislative experience, I shared insights on the implementation of acts on cybersecurity (Cybersecurity Act No. 3 of 2025 and Cybercrime Act No. 4 of 2025), aligning them with continental instruments such as the Malabo Convention and the AU Data Policy Framework.
During sessions on cybersecurity, corporate accountability, and data and AI governance, I offered practical perspectives on emerging cybercrime trends in Zambia and the wider Southern African Development Community region. My interventions underscored the increasing complexity of digital fraud and emphasised the need for enhanced collaboration between law enforcement, regulators, civil society, technical communities and the government.
AfriSIG 2025 reaffirmed that effective data governance requires not only sound policy but also the integration of frontline experiences and multistakeholder engagement. I remain committed to supporting a digital ecosystem where security, justice and human rights can coexist and reinforce each other.
Danny Mwinanu Mwala is a fraud and cybercrime investigator in the Zambia Police Service. He was a Chevening Scholar for the 2023/2024 cohort, has a degree in MSc Cybersecurity from the University of Kent, England, and a BSc. In Computer Systems from the University of Greenwich.
The 13th annual African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) took place from 23 to 28 May 2025 in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, and was convened by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the African Union Commission’s Information Society Division, and Research ICT Africa (RIA), in collaboration with UNECA and the UN IGF Parliamentary Track.