Hon. Mutati Urges Zambian Youth to Drive Economic Growth Through Technology
Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix C. Mutati, MP, has called on Zambian youth to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers of economic development.
Speaking at the University of Zambia Business and Economics Association Scholar’s Dialogue Hub, Mutati emphasized the crucial relationship between technology and economic growth and the youth’s pivotal role in shaping Zambia’s future.
With 65% of Zambia’s population under the age of 25, the Minister highlighted that the country’s economic prosperity depends on equipping young people with the right skills, funding, and infrastructure.
He noted that technology is already transforming Zambia’s economy, with the ICT sector now contributing over 4% to GDP, while mobile money platforms have expanded financial inclusion to over 10 million accounts nationwide.
Mutati pointed to the 8th National Development Plan and Vision 2030, which aim to transition Zambia to a middle-income country. He stressed that nurturing young innovators through policies such as the Start-Up Bill, Innovation Policy, and Artificial Intelligence Strategy will accelerate digital transformation and job creation.
The Zambian government is making deliberate investments to foster youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Some of these initiatives include the Unipod at Copperbelt University (CBU), which provides space and resources for youth to develop groundbreaking innovations, and the Timbuctoo Minetech-Innovation Hub at NISIR, which supports tech-based enterprises with funding and mentorship.
Additionally, public-private partnerships such as Huawei Technologies & Huawei Innovation Fund are helping young tech innovators turn their ideas into viable businesses. The government has also introduced ZICTA’s Youth Innovation Program, which provides grants and digital skills training, as well as NTBC & NSTC Initiatives, which support research, prototypes, and product commercialization.
Mutati urged young people to take full advantage of these opportunities, stating, “Our future is not written in stone; it is written in code, innovation, and the fearless ideas of young Zambians.”
With Africa’s digital economy projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, the Minister challenged Zambia’s youth to be at the forefront of tech-driven solutions that will propel the nation’s economic growth.
He called for greater collaboration between government, private sector players, and academia to build an ecosystem where youth-led innovation thrives.
