Zambia is piloting a program to install solar-powered, Wi-Fi-enabled kiosks in peri-urban and rural areas.

The off-grid kiosks, together with an innovative renewable energy initiative aimed at supporting sustainable development, are part of efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Additionally, the facilities may charge up to 250 devices per week.

Nicholas Phiri, permanent secretary for technical services at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, announced the initiative, which would include testing facilities in the Bauleni and Chawama compounds in the capital, Lusaka, as well as the Lunga district in northern Luapula province.

"These kiosks are more than just energy hubs," said Phiri from Lusaka. "They represent a lifeline for communities often left behind."

In addition to providing crucial services such as energy for charging electronics and Wi-Fi connectivity, the kiosks can purify water, which is especially useful in areas prone to flooding and diseases such as cholera.

The facilities, according to the government, can purify 600 litres of water every day.

The project is be supported by a grant from the United Nations Capital Development Fund.

The kiosks' off-grid status is a big boost in the Southern African country, which is facing its worst energy crisis in years due to the most severe drought in decades, impacting hydroelectricity generation at Kariba Dam.