Zambia is to have a computer assembly plant by the end of year in a bid to reduce the high cost of importing computers into the country.

The assembly plant is planned to be established in the capital Lusaka.

Zambian President Michael Sata said the plant is also expected to help the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) to establish more computer laboratories in schools across the country to enhance the quality of education in public institutions.

He said ZICTA is currently implementing the ‘Connecting Learning Institutions Project’ aimed at connecting schools to the internet and improve the quality of education through e-learning.

So far, Sata said the Zambian government through ZICTA has set up computer laboratories in 47 public colleges and 150 secondary and primary schools.

“As of December 2013, ZICTA had completed the set of computer labs in 47 public colleges and 150 secondary and primary schools. Having computers in all schools in a priority of our government,” Sata said.

He added, “In this regard, our government will through ZICTA spearhead the establishment of a computer assembly plant in Lusaka”.

Sata said some of the benefits of the computer assembly plant include job creation, availability of affordable low cost computer equipment to citizens as well as value addition through use of some local resources such as copper in the assembly process.

The Zambian government, Sata said, is also focusing on promoting e-commerce and the use of ICT in trade promotion, establishing e-government online services and promoting e-education, e-health and e-agriculture.