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 emphasised the need for extensive consultation with key stakeholders and experts in the digital space.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Professor Khalid cautioned that cybersecurity policy must be developed through consensus and technical expertise rather than political expediency.

“With such legislations, I will always call for bipartisan legislations,” he said. “I think that the cybersecurity network in the country, in terms of professionals, civil society organisations, and others whose work directly relates to this, ought to be consulted to see the way forward.”

Professor Khalid highlighted that legislative drafting is often one of the most complex stages in lawmaking, noting that the language used in bills must clearly reflect their intended purpose.

“Sometimes legislation is a very difficult process, and the most difficult stage of legislation is drafting thus the use of language. Sometimes the intent is not as it reflects on paper, which is why you need to get fellow astute drafters to help in the process,” he explained.

He emphasised that cybersecurity laws should not only be robust enough to address evolving digital threats but also carefully worded to prevent misinterpretation and unintended consequences.