Government says Zambia is poised to develop and compete globally by increasing access to information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Speaking on Tuesday after touring Huawei exhibition stands at the ongoing Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Christopher Mvunga said Zambia had already come up with an ICT master plan which has been presented to Cabinet awaiting approval.
Mr Mvunga said for Zambia to move forward and compete globally, there is need to embrace ICTs.
“Government has therefore initiated a number of projects aimed at driving the economy using ICTs. We are implementing the Smart Zambia Phase II which is the backbone project involving the laying of fibre optic cables for efficient communication,” Mr Mvunga said.
Mr Mvunga cited e-passport and e-national registration card as some of the projects under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said it was important to collaborate with the private sector for Government to attain a Smart Zambia.
Mr Mvunga further said Government is implementing the Universal Access Project which is also known as Towers Project under which 1,009 new communication towers are being erected in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
He said Government will engage major stakeholders like Huawei, which is one of the leading tech companies in the world.
President Edgar Lungu announced the establishment of the Smart Zambia Institute in his inaugural address in Lusaka in September 2016.
The institute is the implementing agency for Smart Zambia Initiative under Cabinet Office.– SmartEagles
