Zambia has approved K255 million (US$13.5million) in funding to address persistent challenges in the country’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector, as government pushes to improve connectivity, internet affordability and digital inclusion.
The Ministry of Finance has allocated the funds for rollout to parties involved in the digital transformation of the Southern African country.
Minister of science and technology Felix Mutati announced the funding on Thursday while officiating at the third Digital Economy Round Table (DERT 3), organised by the ministry in partnership with the Presidential Delivery Unit and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority.
DERT serves as a national coordination platform bringing together government institutions, regulators, development partners, mobile network operators, innovators, financiers and private sector stakeholders to accelerate Zambia’s digital transformation efforts.
Mutati acknowledged growing public concern over the quality of digital services in Zambia, saying urgent intervention was needed to strengthen the country’s ICT infrastructure and service delivery.
He said reliable connectivity, stable internet access, affordability and improved customer support remained key priorities under the government’s digital transformation agenda.
“Today’s (Thursday) discussion is not about assigning blame. It is about strengthening collaboration around solutions that improve the quality of service and expand digital access for citizens,” Mutati said.
He continued: “Digital transformation is no longer a future aspiration. it is a present development imperative. Through DERT, Zambia is building the partnerships, systems and investments required to ensure that no citizen is left behind.”
Mutati also highlighted progress made under the country’s digital economy programme.
More than 500 schools have been connected to the internet through partnerships involving Airtel, HIS Towers, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, benefiting over 450,000 learners.
In addition, 100,000 mobile devices have been distributed to women and youth entrepreneurs through collaborations with MTN and the Digital Opportunity Trust.
The minister said around 500 teachers had been trained in digital literacy, while one million Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries had been onboarded onto mobile money platforms.
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