Zambia is developing a framework to enable local content creators to earn revenue from digital platforms, following President Hakainde Hichilema’s call to formalise and support the creative economy across the country’s 10 provinces.
The initiative, led by the ministries of Technology and Science and Youth, Sport and Arts, aims to help creators generate income through advertising, subscriptions and platform partner programmes.
The government is engaging global technology companies, including Meta, TikTok and Google, to establish the legal and technical arrangements needed to enable monetisation.
Hichilema announced the priority when he officially opened the First Session of the 14th National Assembly, reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with the private sector to create jobs, wealth and sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative follows a private motion on content monetisation that was unanimously adopted by Zambia’s National Assembly in late 2024, reflecting growing pressure to help local creators convert their online audiences into income.
The country is also compiling a comprehensive database of creators to identify opportunities for growth in the digital creative economy.
Felix Mutati, former minister of Technology and Science, welcomed the announcement, saying it could help transform the livelihoods of artists and other creative professionals.
“My heart fills with pride knowing the excitement among our artists following the President's groundbreaking pronouncement on the monetisation of digital platforms in Zambia,” Mutati said.
He added that the move could turn creative work into a sustainable source of income for young people while giving local talent greater opportunities to reach global audiences and earn revenue.
Edmond Miti, spokesperson for the Zambia Association of Musicians, said the association was ready to work with the government and private-sector stakeholders to implement the initiative.
“We stand ready to partner with the government and private-sector stakeholders to turn this vision into practical reality,” Miti said.
He noted that African creators had considerable talent and attracted significant engagement on digital platforms, but many markets across the continent continued to struggle to convert online views into earnings.
The proposed framework is expected to address this gap by establishing the conditions for Zambian creators to participate in platform monetisation programmes and benefit financially from their digital content.
Share
