Zambia Hosts 2025 Governance, Risk and Compliance Conference in Livingstone

The Institute of Internal Auditors, in collaboration with ISACA, has hosted the 2025 Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Conference at the Avani Hotel in Livingstone.

Officiating at the event, Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Chipota Mutati, MP, underscored the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of business and governance. He stressed that while AI delivers unprecedented efficiency, it must serve as a complement rather than a replacement for human intelligence.

“Machines cannot replicate the wisdom, comprehension and creativity of people. Human beings will always lead, using AI as a tool to enhance decision-making, productivity and innovation,” Hon. Mutati said.

The Minister described AI not as a threat to business operations but as a transformative force that streamlines processes, strengthens the bottom line and redefines the nature of work. He added that organisations which adopt AI responsibly will unlock opportunities for growth and resilience.

Highlighting the importance of accurate information, knowledge and wisdom in leadership, Hon. Mutati identified two critical building blocks for resilient governance: emerging technologies such as AI, and robust legal frameworks.

Cybercrime, he noted, remains the greatest risk to Africa’s digital transformation. According to Interpol Africa’s 2024 report, cyber-attacks on the continent rose by 23 per cent year-on-year, placing Africa among the regions with the highest attack rates globally. The World Economic Forum has further revealed that cybercrime costs the global economy USD 10.8 trillion annually, effectively making it the world’s third-largest economy, after the United States and China.

In response, the Zambian Government has taken decisive measures to strengthen digital resilience. These include:

• The Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Law, designed to safeguard digital infrastructure, address fraud, criminalise cyber-attacks and ensure public trust in critical systems.
• Protection of Critical Infrastructure, covering essential services such as payment systems, ZESCO power supply, oxygen plants and other vital installations.
• The Data Protection Act (currently under review), aimed at securing personal data, fostering public trust and encouraging responsible data use to attract value and investment.

Hon. Mutati urged stakeholders to actively engage in the ongoing consultative process surrounding the Data Protection Act, emphasising that best practices and collective experiences will be key to ensuring Zambia’s governance, risk and compliance frameworks remain robust and future-ready.