Zambia and Yango Forge Stronger Ties to Accelerate Digital Transformation

The Ministry of Technology and Science of Zambia,  in partnership with Yango,  held a High-Level Public–Private Dialogue Breakfast Meeting on Digital Transformation and Technology-Enabled Development on 8 December 2025 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka. The event brought together senior government officials, Yango’s global leadership, and key technology stakeholders to explore concrete areas of collaboration that can accelerate Zambia’s transition into an inclusive and technology-driven economy.

Discussions focused on unlocking innovation, strengthening digital skills, improving cyber resilience, and advancing AI-enabled public service delivery. Participants emphasized the need for stronger public–private partnerships to boost national productivity and enhance the quality of life for Zambian citizens through digital tools and platforms.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Technology and Science Hon. Felix C. Mutati MP stressed that the country’s digital transformation journey must prioritize people as much as systems. He highlighted the critical role of cyber resilience and the concept of “cyber happiness,” noting that despite Zambia’s strong performance—rated at 92.6% cyber resilience—small incidents such as mobile money theft continue to erode public confidence. He called for technology-driven mechanisms that enable quick recovery of digital losses and protect citizens from cyber risks.

The Minister also pointed to Zambia’s low levels of digital innovation and literacy, currently at 34%, as a major barrier to widespread participation in digital services. He identified key areas where collaboration with the private sector is urgently needed: strengthening the national digital addressing system in partnership with ZICTA, enhancing STEM education, boosting agricultural productivity through digital tools, deploying AI-assisted solutions in health and education, and improving government revenue collection to ensure that no economic activity falls outside the digital ecosystem.

Hon. Mutati reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnerships that close efficiency gaps and strengthen digital service delivery. He urged private-sector players to ensure that their presence contributes to tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives, adding that Yango’s role should go beyond ride-hailing to supporting national digital infrastructure and revenue systems.

Yango Tech CEO Vladimir Razuvaev emphasized that trust is the cornerstone of successful public–private cooperation. He outlined how Yango is increasingly using AI-driven solutions to enable automated analysis, smarter decision-making, and enhanced service delivery. He shared future-oriented innovations, such as AI-powered delivery robots capable of completing everyday tasks—illustrating a vision where children could receive ice cream via autonomous devices. He noted that Yango aims to introduce such cutting-edge solutions in Zambia to directly improve quality of life.

Yango Group Chief Business Officer Adeniyi Adebayo reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Zambia’s digital transformation. He highlighted Yango’s presence in 35 countries and emphasized Zambia’s importance as one of its earliest and most significant African markets. He also noted the central role of Zambian talent in supporting Yango’s operations across several countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Angola.

Mr. Adebayo pointed to Zambia’s population—approaching 30 million—and its growing status as a regional technology hub as key reasons for deeper investment. He stressed that meaningful digital solutions require local insight, underscoring Yango’s deliberate engagement with government and stakeholders to ensure interventions are relevant and impactful. He concluded by expressing Yango’s ambition to deliver lasting national impact through practical digital innovations in mobility, logistics, mapping, payments, and other technology-driven sectors.