The Zambian government held its first digital Economy Roundtable this week, as part of its efforts to address the country’s digital divide and connect approximately 800 000 citizens to broadband internet.
The event, held on Thursday in Lusaka, was presided over by Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema, and was attended by leaders from government, the private sector, development partners, and regulatory bodies.
Hichilema said the digital sector was vital to driving the government’s growth agenda and reducing the cost of doing business.
"At the bare minimum, digital connectivity must support improved access to education and healthcare, enabling tele-education and telemedicine to reach even the most remote communities across the country," Hichilema said.
The president emphasised the need for digital partners and developers to collaborate with government institutions in creating systems that can, through increased automation and transparency, help combat corruption and curb financial fraud.
"We were encouraged by the spirit of collaboration and unity displayed by all participants, a clear demonstration of complementarity over competition," he said.
Official data from the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), in 2024, indicated about 13.5 million internet subscriptions, representing 68.5% penetration.
Most users access the internet through mobile networks, from service providers such as Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia and Zamtel.
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