Acting Director General, Eng. Collins Mbulo is among senior government officials attending the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, South Africa.
The conference is held yearly to help governments and tech companies engage on how best to grow Africa’s digital transformation agenda, this year the festival attracted a number of huge tech companies, among them Microsoft and Meta and saw our government through the Permanent Secretary at the ministry of Technology and Science take part in discussions through a ministerial panel discussion where he emphasized government’s commitment to the digital transformation agenda.
During a Regulators Panel Discussion on Africa’s Digital Transformation Agenda, Eng. Collins Mbulo who is acting ZICTA DG emphasized that Zambia’s priority at the moment was to optimize output across all sectors by integrating emerging technologies, especially in areas like water and infrastructure, so as to support a robust digital ecosystem.
He added that what is a critical component of this strategy involves bolstering the nation’s ICT infrastructure, particularly in rural areas that are mostly neglected yet also important for national development.
“Our effort is funded in part by Zambia’s Universal Access Service Fund and includes the installation of telecommunications towers nationwide to enhance quality connectivity for all,” He said.
It is also important to note that our government is deeply invested in developing digital skills for all zambians.
Recognizing that digital literacy is fundamental to long-term success, our mother ministry, the Ministry of Technology and Science, has revamped educational curricula to incorporate digital skills at all levels.
He further told the panel that this decision meant that they, as the nations regulators, are now tasked to help enable all players to run this programme.
“We are currently distributing computers to all government schools, including those in remote areas, to ensure students acquire the vital digital skills from an early age in this digitally growing world,” he said.
The DG also took time to join the PS in the Ministry Technology and Science, Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, in holding bilateral meetings with prospective partners in the digital and technology space, among them Huawei, which looks forward to partnering with our government more on our digital transformation journey.
This years conference was themed; striking the balance, and achieving innovation friendly tech regulation, and was held from the 11th of November, 2024, to the 14th of November, 2024.
