from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – INTERNET penetration in Zambia has increased from 52 percent to 65 percent over the past five years.
According to a senior government official, this is among the key achievements of the administration’s commitment to accelerating the country’s transformation into a digital economy since assuming office in 2021.
General elections are scheduled for August 13.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Technology and Science.
He said enrolment at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges had increased by more than 40 percent over the five-year period, with greater emphasis on ICT, manufacturing and renewable energy.
More than 200 000 young people have also benefited from entrepreneurship training and innovation hubs.
Habeenzu was speaking in Lusaka over the weekend while officiating at the launch of a partnership between mobile operator Zamtel and Varun Beverages, aimed at rewarding customers while promoting digital inclusion and enhancing customer engagement through mobile technology.
The campaign will reward members of the public with prizes worth K10 million (US$533 951).
Prizes include airtime, shopping vouchers, smartphones, laptops, televisions and motorbikes.
Varun Beverages is the producer and distributor of Pepsi products in Zambia, while Zamtel is wholly owned by the government.
“I am proud that this campaign aligns with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of digital transformation, skills development, industrialisation and youth empowerment,” Habeenzu said.
“This initiative is a strong example of what we can achieve when government and the private sector work together. It places Zambian consumers at the centre, rewards loyalty and, most importantly, drives digital inclusion.”
Seeking a second term in office, President Hichilema and the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) have prioritised digital transformation in their election manifesto under the theme, ‘Connecting the Nation’.
“As the Ministry of Technology and Science, we remain committed to transforming Zambia into a digital economy,” Habeenzu said.
– CAJ News