By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Namibia’s Minister of
Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has held an inaugural
meeting with the newly appointed Board of Directors of the Communications
Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) to align the board’s strategic
priorities with those of the Ministry.
The discussions focused on
accelerating digital transformation, strengthening cybersecurity and ensuring
that the board’s planned initiatives support the Ministry’s key policy
objectives.
CRAN Board Chairperson Mr.
Elwis Nashilongo said the board is committed to transforming the regulator into
a smart and digitally enabled institution. He said the board would prioritise
innovation, improve operational efficiency and support Namibia’s broader
digital transformation agenda.
During the meeting,
Theofelus congratulated the newly appointed board members and urged them to
provide strong strategic leadership as Namibia navigates a rapidly evolving
digital environment. She noted that regulation remains a central issue in
global digital policy discussions and said regulators must remain agile by
adopting approaches that encourage innovation while protecting the public
interest.
The Minister also provided
an update on the government’s efforts to finalise the Cybercrime Bill and the
Data Protection Bill. She said the proposed legislation is intended to
strengthen Namibia’s digital governance framework by enhancing the country’s ability
to combat cybercrime, address digital violence and safeguard the rights and
personal information of citizens.
Both the Ministry and the
CRAN Board reaffirmed their commitment to working together to advance a secure,
innovative and inclusive digital ecosystem that supports Namibia’s
socio-economic development.
