The government of Zambia and Altron Security have launched the country's National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI), which is intended to provide a sovereign cryptographic foundation for digital identity, electronic signatures and secure online governance.
The identity security firm – formed through the merger of Ubusha Technologies and LAWtrust – operates as part of the South African JSE-listed Altron Group.
According to a joint statement, a national PKI operates essentially as an official digital passport office, issuing and verifying digital certificates that authenticate the identities of online parties.
The new infrastructure is intended to reduce Zambia's reliance on foreign identity vendors by establishing its own root of trust.
The digital certificates issued under the new infrastructure are intended to have legal validity under Zambia's Electronic Communications and Transactions legislation.
Furthermore, as an active member of the regional Africa PKI Forum, Zambia's new infrastructure is intended to support the country's move towards cross-border digital identity standards.
To ensure system integrity, the master cryptographic keys were generated under strict, independently audited conditions inside a purpose-built secure facility.
This core key material is held offline and split among multiple separate custodians to ensure that no single entity or organisation has unilateral control of the country's digital trust, according to the joint statement.
Collins Mbulo, director-general of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority, emphasised that the infrastructure will provide stringent validation across online interactions, stating that the initiative is not simply about technology but about creating an environment in which citizens, businesses and government can confidently transact and deliver services in the digital space.
Percy Chinyama, national coordinator of the Smart Zambia Institute, said: "Launching the NPKI is only the beginning. Its value will depend on whether government can sustain the infrastructure, develop the necessary skills, provide adequate resources, reduce unnecessary delays and ensure that public institutions are prepared to adopt and use the technology effectively.”
Andrew Whittaker, managing director, Altron Security, said: “Altron are immensely proud to have been the partner that the Zambian Government entrusted to build their national root of trust. We congratulate them on this major milestone and look forward to the digital public infrastructure that this critical capability will enable.”
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