Zambia Records Major Gains in PISA 2025, But Inequality and Digital Use Remain Challenges

 By Alain Kabinda | Lusaka 

Zambia has recorded significant improvements in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with 15-year-olds posting major gains in Reading, Science and Mathematics compared to 2018. 

The results, released internationally on Monday, show Zambia’s reading score rose from 275 points in 2018 to 325 points in 2025 — a 50-point jump. Science increased from 309 to 357 points, a gain of 48 points. Mathematics also improved from the country’s previous participation in PISA for Development. 

For a country that has long ranked near the bottom of international education comparisons, the gains are being hailed as early proof that education reforms are working. 

Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Kelvin Mambwe said the results must be used to guide policy, not filed away. 

“It is an opportunity to learn from our own data rather than learning from social media critics,” he said. 

Government has rolled out free education, recruited over 40,000 teachers, and increased investment in classrooms, school furniture, grants, school feeding and new schools.

According to PISA National Coordinator Dr. Shadreck Nkoya, more than 2.5 million additional children have entered school since free education began. 

“Rather than seeing the quality of education go down, we have seen improvement. This is not common in education,” Dr. Nkoya said. 

ECZ Executive Director Dr. Michael Chilala said the next step is to identify which interventions are driving results. Priority areas include school feeding, teacher recruitment, new learning modules from the Curriculum Development Centre, and catch-up programmes. 

Dr. Chilala said this matches Zambia’s shift to competency-based education under the 2023 Curriculum Framework, aimed at producing critical thinkers who can adapt to technology and a changing economy. 

OECD Data Manager Guillaume Bousquet noted positive attitudes among Zambian learners. Nearly 60% disagreed that intelligence is fixed, and Zambian students scored 10 percentage points above the OECD average in willingness to work harder when faced with difficult work. Concerns Over Inequality and TechnologyDespite the gains, officials warned that averages hide disparities. 

“There is a clear pathway. Inequality is one of the things we have seen. There is a lot of inequality between schools,” Dr. Nkoya said.

 Mr. Bousquet also flagged digital use. Zambian learners average almost 2 hours per day on digital devices — below the OECD average. He cautioned that the focus should be on how technology is used, especially with AI entering classrooms. 

“They must teach them how to use it responsibly — including how to verify information, recognise limitations and judge whether sources are trustworthy,” he said. 

He added that while teacher recruitment is positive, more money alone will not sustain gains without improvements in teaching, curriculum, school safety and learning time. 

The 2025 PISA results will be compared with Zambia’s 2026 National Assessment Survey to validate findings. The country is also expected to join PISA 2029 on a computer-based platform, which will provide more detailed data. 

Dr. Mambwe said the Ministry will review implications for teaching, teacher development, curriculum, assessment and school leadership. 

“We must ensure that data and evidence do not remain confined to reports,” he said.

 Zambia Red Cross Equips Refugees with Life-Saving First Aid Skills

By Alain kabinda

LUSAKA, Zambia — In an emergency, the difference between life and death can sometimes come down to a few minutes.

A fall, a serious cut, a burn, a road accident or a sudden medical emergency can happen anywhere. And for people living in refugee settlements, where access to health and emergency services may sometimes be challenging, the ability to provide immediate assistance can be especially important.

It is against this backdrop that the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has launched a first aid training programme for members of refugee communities as part of the 2026 World First Aid Day commemoration.

The Commemoration was being held at the Zambia Red Cross Society Training Centre in Lusaka, the initiative is built around this year's theme: “First Aid in Migration Contexts – First Aid for Everyone, Everywhere.”

The message is simple but powerful: first aid should not be a skill reserved for health professionals. Ordinary people, when properly trained, can become the first line of response when emergencies occur.

Speaking at the training, Zambia Red Cross Society Secretary General Mr. Cosmas Sakala said the Society remained committed to making first aid accessible to everyone, including people living in refugee settlements and communities affected by emergencies and disasters.

Mr. Sakala described first aid as a practical, life-saving skill that allows people to respond quickly and appropriately to injuries and medical emergencies before professional medical assistance arrives.

For refugee and displaced communities, he said, such skills can be particularly valuable because they may face unique challenges in accessing timely healthcare and emergency support.

“By equipping refugees and host communities with first-aid knowledge and skills, we strengthen their ability to protect themselves, support one another and build safer, more resilient communities,” Mr. Sakala said.

The training therefore goes beyond teaching participants what to do in an emergency. It is also about building confidence and creating a network of people capable of supporting their families, neighbours and wider communities when disaster strikes.

He further added that a trained first aider may be the person who knows how to respond while an ambulance is still on its way. They may be the person who helps prevent a situation from becoming worse, comforts an injured person and provides essential assistance during those crucial first moments.

And Representing the Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Tovin Kaneneka, Principal Refugee Officer Mr. Edward Simfukwe said Government recognised that supporting refugee communities goes beyond providing basic services.

He said it also involves strengthening the capacity of refugee communities, promoting self-reliance and creating safer and more resilient communities.

Mr. Smfukwe said the World First Aid Day theme was particularly relevant because people affected by migration and displacement should also have access to essential life-saving skills.

“First aid is a vital skill that can make the difference between life and death,” he said.

He commended the Zambia Red Cross Society for marking World First Aid Day through practical action that directly benefits refugee communities.

He also said that this demonstrates the importance of partnerships between Government, humanitarian organisations and communities in responding to the needs of people affected by displacement.

Mr. Simfukwe urged participants to take the training seriously and, importantly, to pass the knowledge on to their families, friends and other members of their communities.

For the Zambia Red Cross Society, the programme also presents an opportunity to connect refugee communities to a wider humanitarian movement.

Mr. Simfukwe said participants would have an opportunity to learn about Zambia Red Cross membership and volunteerism, creating pathways for them to become more actively involved in humanitarian activities and community development.

Meanwhile Zambia Red Cross Society for National Training Chairperson (NTC), Mr. Imbwela Imbwela, said the Society welcomed participants to the training and remained committed to ensuring

Mr. Imbwela said first aid was an important practical skill that could empower individuals to respond effectively to emergencies before professional medical assistance was available.

 Mr. Imbwela said equipping refugees and displaced populations with first aid knowledge is particularly important because they often faced unique risks and challenges.

 

 HANZ Commends Increase in Women MPs, Urges Integrity and Gender-Focused Legislation

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA, Zambia — The Hope Affirmation Network Zambia (HANZ) has congratulated women elected to represent constituencies in Parliament, describing the increase in the number of female Members of Parliament as a positive development for gender representation in Zambia.

HANZ Executive Director Nakiwe Simpungwe said the organisation, which promotes gender justice, was encouraged by the rise in the number of women elected to Parliament from 25 in the previous National Assembly to 32 in the 14th National Assembly.

Ms. Nakiwe Simpungwe

Ms. Simpungwe also welcomed the prospect of additional women joining the National Assembly through the Proportional Representation system, which provides for 20 seats reserved for women.

She said the increased representation of women in Parliament presented an opportunity to advance legislation and policies that respond to the needs of women, girls and children.

“Represent the interests of fellow women, girls, and children well,” Ms. Simpungwe urged the newly elected legislators.

She further called on the women MPs to uphold high standards of integrity, accountability and exemplary conduct, noting that their positions came with significant expectations from the public.

According to Ms. Simpungwe, women legislators were particularly well placed to champion issues affecting women and families because many understood first-hand the challenges women face in their daily lives.

“As mothers, you know first-hand what women go through on a daily basis to keep their families together,” she said, urging the legislators to focus on laws that reflect the aspirations and needs of women and families.

Ms. Simpungwe said it was counting on the newly elected women MPs to use their positions to promote gender equality, protect the rights of women and children, and contribute to a more inclusive and just society.

“We are rooting for you. Make us proud,” Ms. Simpungwe said.

The organisation said the growing number of women in the National Assembly was an important step towards strengthening women's participation in national decision-making and ensuring that women's voices are adequately represented in Parliament.

 AfDB Approves $5 Billion Framework to Cushion Africa From Energy, Fertiliser Crisis

y Alain Kabinda

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a new framework aimed at helping African countries mitigate the impact of the global energy and fertiliser crisis and strengthen their resilience against future economic shocks.

The Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework (GEFCRF) was approved on September 1, 2026 and will enable the Bank Group to provide targeted financial support to countries facing rising energy, food and fertiliser costs.

The framework will be financed through an additional US$4.1 billion in African Development Bank lending and up to US$960 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), the Bank Group's concessional lending arm.

The additional financing will increase the Bank's 2026 lending target to approximately US$12.7 billion.

According to the AfDB, the framework is intended to provide immediate relief while laying the foundation for stronger, more self-reliant and resilient African economies.

The response comes as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to place pressure on African economies through rising global prices for energy, food, fertiliser and other commodities.

The Bank said disruptions to global trade routes and logistics, including key maritime corridors, were also increasing transport costs, delaying deliveries and worsening supply-chain vulnerabilities.

AfDB Acting Vice President for Country and Regional Operations Abdul Kamara said the framework was designed to respond to the urgent needs of African countries while protecting vulnerable populations and preserving development gains.

“This framework is about listening and responding to the urgent needs of African countries, helping them protect households and vulnerable populations, keep food, fertilizer and energy systems functioning, and preserve hard-won development gains while building greater resilience for the future,” Kamara said.

He added that the response should not only cushion countries from the immediate shock but also make them stronger against future crises.

The first will focus on stabilising macroeconomic conditions through rapid counter-cyclical financing, short-term buffers and coordinated fiscal, monetary and debt-policy responses during periods of economic stress.

The second pillar will seek to secure critical food, energy and fertiliser supplies by using emergency and trade finance to keep essential commodities moving, support vulnerable populations and stabilise markets.

The third will focus on protecting essential public spending and vulnerable households, including targeted social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

The fourth pillar will support medium- and long-term resilience, including efforts to reduce dependence on volatile external energy, food and fertiliser markets, diversify supply chains and strengthen regional solutions.

The Bank said African farmers were among those facing the effects of the crisis, particularly as higher fertiliser prices threaten to reduce the amount of inputs farmers can afford to use.

AfDB Officer in Charge Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Martin Fregene said access to finance would be important in ensuring fertiliser continues reaching farmers.

“When fertilizer becomes too expensive or difficult to find, farmers use less and harvests can suffer,” Fregene said.

He said financing could help businesses keep fertiliser moving to farmers while efforts are made to strengthen fertiliser markets and increase local supply across Africa.

The framework will remain in effect for one year from the date of Board approval, after which it will be reviewed before any extension.

The AfDB said assistance under the framework would be demand-driven, with the level and type of support tailored to the vulnerability of individual countries.

The initiative builds on the Bank's previous emergency responses, including its COVID-19 Response Facility and the African Emergency Food Production Facility, combining immediate crisis support with measures aimed at strengthening Africa's capacity to withstand future shocks.

 

 Beyond the Showgrounds: Turning Agricultural Show Exposure into Lasting SME Business

By Alain Kabinda

The crowds have disappeared; the exhibition stands have been dismantled and the activity that characterised the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Showgrounds has returned to normal.

But for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the end of the show does not necessarily mean the end of the business opportunity.

For entrepreneurs who participated in the 98th Agricultural and Commercial Show, held from July 29 to August 3, 2026 under the theme “Fostering Trade and Investment,” the real test is now whether the exposure, contacts and relationships created during the event can be converted into sustainable business.

Among those determined to make the opportunity count is Gift Siame, an SME exhibitor dealing in products like peanut batter, Millet and soya beans.

For Siame, the show was more than an opportunity to display products to thousands of visitors. It became a platform for building a database of potential customers and business partners.

And speaking to Daily News in Lusaka Mr. Gift Siame said,

“We made sure that we did not just exchange contacts and forget about them after the show. We started following up with the people who visited our stand,” Siame says.

His experience highlights one of the most important lessons for SMEs participating in large exhibitions: the value of an exhibition can extend far beyond the days that it is running.

During the show, Siame encountered visitors who expressed interest in his products but were not immediately ready to buy.

Instead of waiting for those potential customers to return on their own, he continued engaging them after the exhibition through marketing and follow-up.

“We have continued marketing after the show because we realised that some people who visited our stand were genuinely interested in what we are producing. The contacts we collected have helped us to keep communicating with potential customers,” he said.

According to Siame, some of the contacts have returned with enquiries and orders, while others have opened doors to additional potential customers.

“Some people who visited us at the show have since contacted us to make enquiries and place orders. Others have connected us to people who are interested in our products. For us, that is one of the biggest benefits we got from exhibiting,” Siame said.

For an SME operating in a competitive market, such connections can be just as important as direct sales made during the exhibition.

The show gives businesses an opportunity to meet consumers, retailers, distributors, investors and other entrepreneurs in one place. But unless those relationships are maintained, much of that opportunity can disappear once the exhibition closes.

Rather than considering the Agricultural and Commercial Show a six-day marketing event, entrepreneurs can use it as the beginning of a longer commercial relationship.

Every serious enquiry, telephone number, WhatsApp contact or business card collected at the exhibition can potentially become a customer, supplier, distributor or business partner.

“The important thing is follow-up. You can meet hundreds of people at the show, but if you do not contact them afterwards, you may lose the opportunity. We are still using the contacts we collected and continuing to market our products,” Siame said.

The first step after the show should be to organise the contacts collected and separate potential customers from general visitors.

Businesses can then follow up with quotations, product information, samples, prices and delivery arrangements, depending on the nature of the enquiry.

Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp Business, can also allow SMEs to maintain regular communication with customers without incurring the costs associated with traditional advertising.

Businesses have to pay for exhibition space, transport, branding, staff, accommodation in some cases, product samples and promotional materials.

The return on that investment should therefore not be judged only by the amount of money made during the exhibition.

A successful exhibition can generate longer-term value through new customers, orders, distribution agreements, partnerships and market intelligence.

The visitors to his stand provided more than an audience for his farming products. They provided potential connections that the business could continue developing after the event.

“We want to keep growing. The show gave us exposure, but what we do after the show is what will determine whether that exposure becomes sustainable business,” Siame said.

The post-show period also provides an opportunity for SMEs to assess what they learnt from consumers and competitors and an entrepreneur who received repeated questions about packaging, pricing, product quality or availability can use that information to improve the business.

For manufacturers and agro-processors, demand generated at the show can also inform production decisions also if visitors demonstrate strong interest in a particular product, the SME can assess whether it has the capacity to produce and supply that product consistently.

Instead of simply asking how much was sold during the show, entrepreneurs can ask deeper questions:

Who showed interest in our products? What were they looking for? What prevented them from buying? What products attracted the most attention? Can we supply larger orders? Which markets should we target next?

Another opportunity created by the Agricultural and Commercial Show is the possibility of expanding beyond the Lusaka market and other Visitors came from different parts of the country, creating opportunities for SMEs to identify retailers, distributors and potential customers in other provinces.

An SME that begins with a small customer base can gradually build distribution networks that take its products closer to farmers and consumers in other parts of Zambia.

While SMEs have a responsibility to follow up on the opportunities they create, the responsibility should not rest entirely on individual entrepreneurs.

for Siame, the experience has changed his understanding of what it means to exhibit at a major business event  and the most valuable outcome may not necessarily be what happened while the crowds were at the showgrounds, but what happens afterwards.

His decision to continue marketing and following up with contacts demonstrates how SMEs can extend the commercial life of an exhibition.

For Zambia's SMEs, the Agricultural and Commercial Show should therefore not be viewed as an event that ends when the gates close.

The real show begins afterwards—when the contacts are followed up, enquiries become orders, customers become regular clients and exposure becomes sustainable business.

That is when the promise of “Fostering Trade and Investment” moves from the exhibition grounds into the everyday reality of Zambia's local businesses.

(c) All Rights Reserved. 

 SMEs Challenged to Shift from Trading to Value Addition

By Alain kabinda

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to take advantage of opportunities emerging from Zambia’s economic growth agenda, particularly in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, digital commerce and export markets.

                                                           Mr. James Chiwala

Speaking in an interview to Daily News in Lusaka Business Development and Marketing Expert and Co-Founder of CNC360 Consulting Mr. James Chiwala says SMEs are strategically positioned to contribute to economic growth through value addition, job creation and increased private sector participation, in line with the Eighth National Development Plan.

Mr. Chiwala said SMEs account for about 97 percent of businesses operating in Zambia and make a significant contribution to the national economy and employment.

He said the Government’s emphasis on value addition and local participation presents an opportunity for SMEs to move beyond traditional trading and become producers of goods and services.

One of the major opportunities, he said, is the mining sector, where the implementation of the Local Content framework is creating increased opportunities for Zambian-owned businesses to participate in mining supply chains.

According to Mr. Chiwala, local SMEs can supply a wide range of non-core goods and services, including catering, personal protective equipment, transport, maintenance services and safety gear.

He urged SMEs seeking to benefit from mining opportunities to formalise their businesses by obtaining the necessary registrations, including business registration with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) registration.

Mr. Chiwala also highlighted invoice financing as an important financing mechanism that can help SMEs overcome working-capital constraints when supplying large mining companies.

He said the availability of such financing from commercial banks could enable smaller businesses to fulfil contracts while waiting for their invoices to be paid.

However,Mr. Chiwala challenged SMEs to move away from simply buying and reselling products and instead invest in value addition and manufacturing.

He encouraged farmers and agribusinesses to process agricultural commodities such as maize, soybeans, groundnuts and tomatoes into finished and packaged products.

“Don't just sell maize grain. Don't just sell soybeans. Don't just sell groundnuts. Process it, mill it, package it, brand it,” he said.

Mr. Chiwala said opportunities also existed in furniture manufacturing, building materials, agro-processing and the production of products such as tomato paste, sauces and packaged honey.

He said the Made in Zambia and Proudly Zambian initiatives could provide a market for locally manufactured products, particularly as SMEs improve the quality, packaging and branding of their goods.

Mr. Chiwala further urged SMEs to explore government and donor-supported financing programmes, including initiatives providing credit to citizen-owned businesses and enterprises operating within agricultural value chains.

He, however, warned that access to financing would remain difficult for businesses that lack proper management and financial records.

“Most of our SMEs are failing to secure funding because of poor business skills. We lack skills to run our businesses profitably and sustainably,” Mr. Chiwala said.

He urged entrepreneurs to develop business plans, maintain proper financial records and undergo capacity-building programmes to improve their chances of accessing loans and grants.

Mr. Chiwala also stressed the importance of embracing digital platforms as a way of expanding markets.

He said SMEs could use platforms such as social media, WhatsApp Business, TikTok and e-commerce to market their products beyond their immediate geographical areas.

He said a farmer in Kitwe, for example, could sell products to customers in Lusaka or Livingstone without having a physical shop in those markets.

“The world has now evolved. The world has moved on. We cannot do business as usual,” he said.

Mr. Chiwala further encouraged SMEs to form partnerships, cooperatives and business clusters to increase their capacity and take advantage of economies of scale.

He said individual SMEs often lacked the production capacity to meet large orders, but collaboration could enable groups of businesses to pool resources, purchase inputs in bulk, share equipment and compete for larger contracts.

He cited rural cooperatives as an example, saying members could collectively invest in shared infrastructure such as hammer mills, warehouses and cooking-oil processing equipment.

“Let's consider seriously working in partnerships and exploit what you call the economies of scale and synergies,” said Mr. Chiwala.

Mr. Chiwala also urged SMEs to look beyond the domestic market and explore export opportunities under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said access to the wider African market provides significant opportunities for Zambian businesses that are able to produce competitive, quality and properly packaged goods.

He said the responsibility now rests with SMEs to prepare themselves to exploit the opportunities emerging from Zambia’s economic growth agenda.

Mr. Chiwala said businesses that formalise their operations, strengthen management skills, embrace technology, add value to local raw materials and collaborate with other enterprises would be better positioned to contribute to Zambia’s economic expansion and job creation.

 Govt Launches National Public Key Infrastructure to Boost Digital Trust

By Alain Kabinda

The Government has launched the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI), a digital security framework aimed at strengthening digital identity verification and securing electronic transactions as Zambia accelerates its digital transformation.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary Dr Brilliant Habeenzu said Zambia’s digital transformation could not succeed through connectivity and online platforms alone without establishing trust in the digital environment.

“Digital information requires digital trust,” Dr Habeenzu said.

He said the NPKI was a strategic investment in Zambia’s digital future and would provide a trusted security layer for digital services, electronic documents and transactions.

Dr Habeenzu said Government would support the initiative through strengthening the policy and legal framework, investing in secure digital infrastructure and building partnerships with industry, academia, civil society and international partners.

He said the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act had provided the legal foundation for the Public Key Infrastructure framework and the establishment of a National Root Certification Authority.

Dr Habeenzu also said  that Government would continue updating regulations and harmonising standards with regional and international frameworks to strengthen confidence in electronic transactions.

He said the NPKI would complement investments in telecommunications networks, secure data centres and cybersecurity systems, while supporting the expansion of digital identity systems and resilient networks.

Dr Habeenzu said the framework could also create opportunities for local technology companies to develop products and services around digital identities, digital signatures and secure electronic transactions.

He noted that digital trust was particularly important in attracting investment because investors needed predictable systems supported by reliable infrastructure and a strong legal framework.

“The NPKI contributes to this environment by signalling that Zambia is putting in place the institutional and technical foundations required for a modern digital economy,” he said.

Dr Habeenzu said authenticated electronic documents, verified identities and secure digital transactions could help Government reduce reliance on paper-based processes and physical signatures.

He said this could make public services faster, more efficient, accountable, cost-effective and accessible.

However, Dr Habeenzu cautioned that the NPKI alone would not guarantee digital trust, saying reliable connectivity, secure data centres, resilient networks, cybersecurity capabilities, digital identity systems and skilled personnel were equally important.

Meanwhile, ZICTA Board Chairperson Professor Mundia Muya said the NPKI would provide the foundation for trusted digital interactions by enabling verification of people, organisations, devices, documents and electronic transactions.

Prof Muya said the growing use of digital government services, mobile money, digital banking, e-commerce and online businesses had made digital trust increasingly important.

“Today is not simply about launching another technology platform. It is about strengthening trust, which is fundamental to the success of our digital economy as a country,” he said.

He said the NPKI would use digital certificates and signatures to establish identity and verify the authenticity of electronic transactions and documents, helping to prevent tampering and impersonation.

Prof Muya said the infrastructure would benefit Government, businesses and consumers by supporting secure electronic services, digital approvals, paperless processes and safer online transactions.

He disclosed that ZICTA, in its capacity as the National Root Certification Authority, had operationalised the National Digital Trust Anchor.

According to Prof Muya, the trust anchor would enable digital certificates and signatures to be independently verified through an established trust chain, helping determine whether transactions were authentic and identities could be trusted.

He called on Government institutions, financial institutions, telecommunications operators, businesses and technology service providers to embrace the framework and integrate trusted digital certificates and signatures into their systems where appropriate.

“Government cannot pave the digital future in isolation. The regulator, government, industry and consumers must work together,” Prof Muya said.

And speaking at the same ceremony ZICTA Director General Eng Collins Mbulo described the launch as a significant milestone in Zambia’s efforts to build a secure, trusted and digitally enabled economy.

Eng Mbulo said the infrastructure would establish mechanisms for identifying parties involved in online transactions, validating electronic records and protecting digital information from security threats.

And Further, Smart Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama has called for greater speed in the implementation of digital innovations, warning that delays could undermine investments in the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Mr Chinyama said technology projects required timely implementation because innovations could become outdated when subjected to lengthy government processes.

“Today is a day that should have happened a long time ago. Talk of PKI started a long time ago, but it has now arrived, and we are happy it has arrived,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of sustainability, urging institutions to plan for adequate financing, skilled personnel and technical capacity to maintain digital systems after their implementation.

Mr Chinyama warned that excessive dependence on external support could leave institutions “vendor locked” when they lacked internal technical capacity.

He further urged public institutions to overcome resistance to new technologies and ensure that legal, procurement and technical officials worked together when making decisions affecting digital projects.

Mr Chinyama said the NPKI would support Zambia’s continuing digitalisation efforts, including digital identity and the delivery of government services through online platforms.

He described the launch as the beginning of a broader journey towards a digitally enabled public sector.

“A genuine goal has not ended; it has just begun. We have a big journey in front of us, and that journey starts now,” he said.

The NPKI is expected to play a central role in Zambia’s digital transformation by creating a trusted environment for electronic transactions, digital government services, businesses and citizens.