from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIA is expanding a nationwide telecommunications tower rollout to an area earmarked as its new capital city.
The rollout of this infrastructure has commenced in the central district of Ngabwe where under-served communities can now benefit from e-commerce, e-health and e-learning.
This development is anticipated to eventually bring this area at par with the rest of the country in terms of network coverage and participation in the digital economy.
Four towers are to be installed in Ngabwe, an area the government is actively working on its infrastructure and development plans as a proposed capital city.
With its potential as the next capital, Ngabwe is forecast to feature in the campaigns for the 2026 general elections.
Officials from the government, publicly-owned telecommunication operator Zamtel, Lusaka Telecommunication Solutions and the Zambia Information and Communications Telecommunications Authority (ZICTA) have launched the first tower in the region.
Coverage by the facility will directly benefit 5 500 people across about 1 000 households in Ngwabe.
Another tower is being set a few kilometres from the site where the facility has been commissioned.
Felix Mutati, Minister of Technology and Science, confirmed, “In addition to this (launched) tower, three more towers will be constructed to enhance coverage across Ngabwe district.”
He said the government of President Hakainde Hichilema would continue to prioritise Ngabwe as a new district by expanding service delivery.
Zambian authorities have hinted at moving the capital city from Lusaka in the southern part of the country to Ngabwe, seen as more strategically located by its being in the centre.
The Central province area of Ngabwe enjoys the geographically key location between Lusaka and the other major city of Ndola.
The erection of towers in Ngabwe is part of an ongoing rollout of 163 sites countrywide in the Southern African nation.
With an official population of over 42 000 residents, Ngabwe has been in existence since 2012 after its separation from Kapiri Mposhi district.
Lusaka has been the capital of the then Northern Rhodesia since 1935 and was retained in 1964 when the former colony attained independence as Zambia.
Lusaka replaced the border town of Livingstone, seen as unstrategic for its being southernmost at the border and thus away from major economic activity.
– CAJ News