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.