A DEDICATED task force with expert teams from four ministries and sector institutions is being formed to tackle the growing challenge of cybercrime, the government has stated.

Hamad Yusuf Masauni, the Home Affairs minister, cited the formation of the task force in a press briefing in Dar es Salaam yesterday following a meeting with top officials of the key service providers, that is, mobile phone companies.

Jerry Silaa, the Information, Communications and Information Technology minister has been tasked to coordinate the close collaboration with telecommunications companies, he said, identifying regions with noticeable levels of cybercrime as Rukwa, Mbeya, Morogoro and Dar es Salaam.

“This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s digital landscape,” he said, noting that the task force will be composed of permanent secretaries for Home Affairs, Information, Constitutional and Legal Affairs as well as Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups.

“This inter-ministerial collaboration ensures that the issue is tackled from various angles, combining legal, technical and community-based approaches,” he said

The permanent secretaries will coordinate efforts within their ministries and provide regular updates to ministers, enabling a unified and responsive strategy, he said, affirming that the task force began its operations immediately following the decision. The partnership emphasizes the critical role of private sector involvement in combating cyber threats, he said, while minister Silaa set out 13 measures to curb cybercrime, citing the need to encourage the public to report cybercriminal activities to law enforcement.

Tightening the registration processes for mobile phone users to reduce anonymity and raising awareness about digital safety to empower mobile phone users are other anticipated measures.

Improving financial literacy, with a significant role for the Bank of Tanzania to ensure secure online transactions is also taken up, along with implementing the national ICT policy to strengthen online services and the regulation, he stated.

Artificial intelligence use has also been instrumental in tracking and identifying untrustworthy mobile phone users, significantly reducing cybercrime incidents, he said, pointing at over 80.7m simcards having been registered across the country.

“While this achievement reflects progress in establishing accountability, the government remains focused on enhancing systems for better tracking and prevention,” he asserted.

The new initiative signals a significant shift in local digital governance by technology and cross-sectoral cooperation, as the government aims not only to mitigate immediate threats but create a culture of digital responsibility among the citizenry, he stated.

By prioritizing education, policy enforcement and innovative technologies, Tanzania has positioned itself as a leader in combating cybercrime within the region, he suggested.

“The road ahead may be challenging, but the resolve of the task force and its partners suggests a future where the digital space is safer for all,” he added.