Zambia Secures $54 Million in ICT Sector Investments
Zambia has successfully attracted over $54 million in investments in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, thanks to strategic tax waivers on the importation of ICT equipment.
This announcement was made by Technology and Science Minister Hon. Felix Mutati during a courtesy call from a delegation from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) at Maxwell House in Lusaka.
Minister Mutati highlighted the government’s proactive measures to stimulate growth in the ICT sector by eliminating taxes on imported ICT equipment.
“The decision to waive these taxes was aimed at opening up the ICT sector and fostering private sector participation,” he said. This initiative has significantly boosted digital infrastructure across the country.
Among the notable developments is the expansion of Starlink’s presence in Zambia. Since its entry last year with 100 kits, Starlink has now increased its deployment to 11,000 kits, greatly enhancing digital connectivity.
Furthermore, Zambia is on the verge of achieving comprehensive optic fibre connectivity with all its eight neighboring countries, with a completed connection to Angola and plans to connect to Mozambique next.
In a move to further enhance communication infrastructure, Minister Mutati announced the construction of 379 communication towers nationwide to improve phone network access. This effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure robust and widespread digital communication across Zambia.
The reduction in courier fees by the Ministry has also led to a surge in the number of courier companies, from an initial 40 to over 120, many of which are now operating via motorcycles. This growth reflects increased efficiency and accessibility in the country’s courier services.
The COMESA delegation, led by ICT Director Lanka Dorby, visited Zambia with a consultant to assess the possibility of establishing the Cloud Africa Ecosystem in the country.
“Zambia is among 10 African countries identified as high performers in the ICT sector, and we are evaluating the feasibility of hosting the cloud headquarters here,” Ms. Dorby remarked.
