Percy Chinyama, National Coordinator of SMART Zambia — a government initiative established to drive the digital transformation of the state through the modernisation of public services using information and communication technologies — said on Tuesday, 7 July, that the digitalisation programme is helping to eliminate operational silos, improve transparency, and bring public services closer to communities, particularly in rural areas.
The initiative’s E-Government division says it has significantly expanded the country’s digital infrastructure over the past four years, as part of the government’s strategy to ensure public services are accessible to citizens across all regions of Zambia.
Speaking to journalists, Chinyama explained that the programme is contributing to the dismantling of fragmented structures within public administration, strengthening transparency, and bringing state services closer to communities, especially in rural zones.
According to the coordinator, the initiative, launched in 2021, has been implemented despite the financial constraints faced by the government and local authorities during that period. He added that the programme has focused on building the digital infrastructure needed to modernise public institutions and improve service delivery across the country.
In the education sector, SMART Zambia is installing digital interactive whiteboards — known as SMART Boards — in schools, prioritising institutions in rural areas in an effort to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural pupils. The initiative aims to improve access to digital learning tools and strengthen technology-supported teaching.
The agency also announced that all local authorities and post offices in Zambia’s North-Western Province are now 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 public service delivery throughout the province.
In the health sector, the SMART Zambia national coordinator revealed that the SmartCare Pro digital health system has been installed in approximately 80% of the country’s health facilities. The government aims to achieve full national coverage, enabling health professionals to improve patient record management and increase service efficiency.
SMART Zambia is also advancing the digitalisation of land administration through the Zambia National Spatial Data Infrastructure GeoPortal (ZNSDI GeoPortal). According to Chinyama, the platform will support districts such as Mwinilunga by providing accurate maps of rivers, wildlife conservation areas, and territorial boundaries. The objective is to assist authorities in issuing artisanal mining licences more transparently and to reduce conflicts related to land occupation.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/09/mundo/africa/zambia-digitalizacao-dos-servicos-publicos-alcanca-escolas-hospitais-e-governos-locais/
