MTN Zambia and the National Technology Business Centre (NTBC) have partnered with government and conservation agencies on an initiative to use technology to boost productivity and tackle the country's environmental challenges.
The partners launched the fifth edition of the Pachipanda Innovation Challenge, themed "Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Zambia's Green Economy", in Lusaka on Monday.
Pachipanda began in Zambia in 2022 as an MTN Zambia and World Wide Fund Zambia partnership and expanded continentally from 2024; the 2025 Africa-wide finals were held at MTN Group headquarters in Johannesburg.
Brilliant Habeenzu, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, presided over the launch.
"The theme is timely and closely aligned with Zambia's development agenda, particularly the need for the country to produce more, produce better and produce smarter," he said.
Habeenzu said science, technology and innovation must be used as practical instruments for increasing productivity, adding value, generating cleaner energy and improving the delivery of public services.
He said government viewed these as critical enablers of transformation, job creation and sustainable development, and would support a generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, technology developers and job creators able to use technology to solve community problems and establish businesses.
Government has set national targets for higher crop production, 10 000MW of power generation, and growth in livestock and tourism, as part of efforts to build a green economy.
"Government is therefore open to initiatives such as this challenge," Habeenzu said.
Pamela Pio, general manager: corporate services and company secretary at MTN Zambia, reaffirmed the telco's Foundation's belief in the potential of youth.
She said MTN's role extended beyond connectivity and digital services to creating platforms through which young people could develop, test, commercialise and scale innovative ideas.
This year's edition aims to expand opportunities for training, mentorship and market access, helping more young people turn climate-smart ideas into scalable businesses that create jobs and promote sustainable development.
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