Zambia has attracted approximately 58 million U.S. dollars in investments for digital infrastructure since the 2021 removal of taxes on imported equipment for digital infrastructure, a senior government official revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking at the 2024 Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka, Zambian Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, said the investment has enabled Zambia to establish fiber optic connections with all eight of its neighboring countries.
Mutati noted that private sector investment in digital infrastructure has surged following the tax exemption on digital equipment imports. He emphasized the government’s efforts to promote incentives, innovation, and investment to further engage the private sector in the country’s economic development.
Additionally, Percy Chinyama, the national coordinator of the Smart Zambia Institute, a government agency overseeing e-government initiatives, called for greater collaboration to drive digital transformation across Africa.
Zambia is currently hosting the second Digital Government Africa Summit, aimed at exploring solutions to accelerate digital transformation on the continent. The event, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, has brought together over 500 delegates from more than 30 African nations.
