SMART Zambia Expands Digital Infrastructure to Reach Every Corner of the Country

The SMART Zambia  e-Government Division says it has significantly expanded the country’s digital infrastructure over the past four years as part of the government’s drive to ensure that public services are accessible to citizens across Zambia. Speaking during a live interview on Mwinilunga Radio on July 7, SMART Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama said the digitalisation programme is helping eliminate operational silos, improve transparency and bring government services closer to communities, particularly in rural areas.

Chinyama said the initiative, launched in 2021, was implemented despite financial challenges facing government and local authorities at the time. He noted that the programme has focused on building the digital infrastructure needed to modernise public institutions and deliver services more efficiently across the country.

In the education sector, SMART Zambia is deploying SMART Boards in schools, with priority being given to rural learning institutions to help narrow the digital divide between urban and rural learners. The initiative is intended to improve access to digital learning tools and strengthen technology-enabled education.

The agency also announced that all local authorities and post offices in Zambia’s North-Western Province have now been connected through the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN). Using fibre-optic infrastructure, the network links government offices, schools and health facilities, enabling improved communication and delivery of public services throughout the province.

In healthcare, Chinyama said the SmartCare Pro digital health system has now been deployed in approximately 80% of health facilities nationwide. The government aims to achieve full national coverage, allowing healthcare providers to improve patient record management and strengthen the efficiency of health services.

SMART Zambia is also advancing digital land administration through the Zambia National Spatial Data Infrastructure (ZNSDI) GeoPortal. According to Chinyama, the platform will support districts such as Mwinilunga by providing accurate mapping of rivers, wildlife areas and land boundaries, helping authorities issue artisanal mining licences more transparently while reducing disputes over occupied land.

As part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, Chinyama encouraged young Zambians to take advantage of internet technologies and artificial intelligence to create economic opportunities. He also urged citizens to enrol in the free digital literacy courses available through SMART Zambia to build digital skills needed for the country’s evolving digital economy.

Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga highlighted the government’s wider development ambitions, including attracting five million tourists, increasing electricity generation to 10,000 megawatts and producing 10,000 metric tonnes of maize to strengthen Zambia’s tourism value chain.

Meanwhile, North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Colonel Grandson Katambi (Retired) praised SMART Zambia for digitising local authorities, government offices and post offices across the province. He said residents can now access key government services, including land administration, online, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming travel to Lusaka. The developments, he said, demonstrate that Zambia’s digital transformation is steadily progressing across districts and public services.