Cybersecurity expert John Tshinseki has called for […]

Cybersecurity expert John Tshinseki has called for more practical cybersecurity training for law enforcement officers, saying specialised technical skills are essential for investigating online fraud, digital impersonation and other cyber offences.

Tshinseki said investigating crimes committed through the internet required more than theoretical knowledge, arguing that officers needed hands-on experience using digital investigation tools to trace evidence and identify suspects.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Tshinseki said law enforcement institutions needed to invest in specialized cybersecurity courses to strengthen their capacity to investigate technology-related crimes.

He identified ethical hacking, digital forensics and open-source intelligence as areas that could equip investigators with practical skills for examining digital evidence and tracing individuals operating fake social media accounts.

“Cybersecurity is a specialized field,” Tshinseki said, arguing that practical training should complement conventional academic qualifications. He proposed that public institutions support relevant personnel to undertake professional cybersecurity certification programmes, which he said could provide focused technical training within a shorter period than traditional university programmes. Tshinseki also called for cybersecurity training to be incorporated into police and defence training institutions, saying officers needed to be prepared for offences that required digital investigation rather than conventional policing methods alone.

 He argued that graduates should have opportunities to acquire practical cybersecurity skills alongside their academic qualifications, enabling them to apply their knowledge using specialised tools. According to Tshinseki, universities could continue offering degree programmes while institutions introduced additional practical courses designed to prepare students for specialised cybersecurity roles.

He said the development of technical expertise was important as offenders increasingly used online platforms and digital tools to commit crimes. Zambia’s Cyber Security Act No. 3 of 2025 and Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025 provide a legal framework for cybersecurity and cyber-related offences.

Tshinseki said strengthening practical training for relevant personnel would help improve the country’s capacity to investigate digital crime.

Article by Karen Ngulube