Economic Adviser at the Office of the Vice President, Professor Sharif Mahmud Khalid, has called for a bipartisan and inclusive approach to the passage of the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
He stressed the importance of extensive consultations with key stakeholders and experts in the digital sector.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Professor Khalid cautioned that cybersecurity policy should be guided by consensus and technical expertise rather than political expediency.
“With such legislation, I will always call for bipartisan support,” he said. “The cybersecurity network in the country—including professionals, civil society organisations, and others whose work directly relates to this field—ought to be consulted to chart the way forward.”
Professor Khalid noted that legislative drafting is often one of the most complex stages of lawmaking, emphasizing that the language used in bills must accurately reflect their intended purpose.
“Legislation can be a very challenging process, and drafting is often the hardest part. Sometimes the intent of a law is not clearly captured on paper, which is why it’s important to involve skilled drafters in the process,” he explained.
He added that cybersecurity laws must not only be robust enough to address evolving digital threats but also carefully worded to avoid misinterpretation and unintended consequences.