Mnangagwa Recruits Online Foot Soldiers To Monitor Internet Activities.
Zimbabwe’s government, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched a controversial National Cybersecurity Training Programme aimed at recruiting and training 10 000 young Zimbabweans to act as online monitor.
While officially described as a step towards empowering youth with digital defence skills, many critics warn this is a state-driven effort to expand surveillance and tighten control over Internet and Social media activities.
ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera announced the initiative, calling it “a proud moment for Zimbabwe and describing the programme as groundbreaking “.
However the training has sparked fears that these recruits-dubbed “varakashi” will serve as government aligned footsoldiers tasked with policing online expressions and dissent.
Mavetera said the programme will equip youth to become “ethical hackers,Cybersecurity analysis and guardian of our digital future”.yet
Zimbabwe’s record of suppressing dissent raises doubts about whether these “guardians ” will protect citizens or enforce censorship.
The Minister also highlighted scholarship provided through partnership with Cybers and Komib Foundation, aimed at youth across the SADC region. We are also offering an initial 160 scholarships for youth across the SADC region, opening doors to a global industry set to exceed USD 200 billion, He said critics question how many will benefit and suspect the bulk of Trainees will be co-oped into State surveillance roles.
Mavetera insisted the programme is about building “a Zimbabwe that doesn’t just consume technology but leads it and called on young Zimbabwean and SADC youth to “step up get trained, and shape the future with us,”for many observers, however this future is one of increased government monitoring and digital control rather than genuine empowering.
Mavetera is doing more for youth empowerment than any activist hiding behind a blog. Training 10,000 young people is progress, not oppression. You just hate to see Zimbabwe rise. You talk about “critics” but the only critic here is you, writing long essays to discredit everything the government does. We see through the bitterness and the foreign agenda. This is why people no longer take you seriously. Every single government effort is labelled “authoritarian” or “dangerous.” Maybe the real danger is your refusal to accept progress.
Don’t run away from the facts that you want to control social media.
Once again, the so-called activist twists a national development programme into a conspiracy theory. Why are you so threatened by Zimbabwe training its youth in cybersecurity?
You act like every initiative is a threat just because it doesn’t fit your political agenda. Young people want opportunities, not your fear-mongering and activist paranoia.
You love calling everything “control” and “monitoring” — but the truth is, you just don’t want any challenge to your monopoly on social media manipulation. Varakashi are winning the digital war, and it shows.
You call it “surveillance” because it’s not being done by your Western donors. This is about empowering our own people with real digital skills — but you prefer Zimbabwe stays behind.
Funny how you never complain when the UK or USA trains their citizens in cybersecurity. But when Zimbabwe does it, suddenly it’s “spying”? Your double standards are exhausting.