Zambia and Yango Partner to Boost Digital Transformation
The Ministry of Technology and Science, in partnership with Yango, held a High-Level Public–Private Dialogue Breakfast Meeting focused on accelerating the country’s progress towards an inclusive and technology-driven economy.
The meeting took place at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka and gathered senior government officials, Yango global leaders and key technology stakeholders. Discussions covered innovation, digital skills, cyber resilience, artificial intelligence and the role of technology in improving productivity and enhancing the quality of life for citizens.
Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix C. Mutati, MP, delivered the keynote address and emphasised that Zambia’s digital transformation must centre on people as much as on technology. He noted that Zambia currently stands at 92.6 percent cyber resilience according to international indicators, but incidents of mobile money theft continue to undermine public trust. He stressed the need for technical systems that ensure quick recovery of losses and stronger protection for digital users.
The Minister also pointed out that the country’s digital literacy and innovation levels remain low at 34 percent. He highlighted the importance of increasing citizen participation in digital services and presented several priority areas for collaboration with the private sector. These include strengthening the national digital addressing system in partnership with ZICTA, improving STEM education to nurture future digital professionals, advancing agricultural productivity through digital tools, deploying artificial intelligence solutions in health and education and enhancing government revenue collection systems.
Hon. Mutati reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnerships that improve efficiency in public service delivery and ensure that citizens clearly experience the benefits of technology. He encouraged Yango to expand its contributions beyond mobility services and to support the development of Zambia’s digital infrastructure and revenue systems.
Yango Tech Chief Executive Officer, Mr Vladimir Razuvaev, highlighted trust as the foundation for successful public–private cooperation. He explained that Yango is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into its services, allowing faster analysis, improved decision-making and enhanced service delivery.
He also shared Yango’s long-term vision of introducing advanced technologies such as AI-powered delivery robots that can complete daily tasks and improve convenience for families. He expressed hope that such innovations can eventually be introduced in Zambia to improve the quality of life.
Yango Group Chief Business Officer, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, reaffirmed Yango’s commitment to Zambia’s digital transformation journey. He noted that Zambia was among Yango’s earliest African markets and that Zambian talent has played a vital role in expanding the company’s presence across southern Africa, including in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Angola.
He explained that Zambia’s growing population, which is approaching 30 million, positions the country as an emerging regional technology hub with significant potential.
Mr Adebayo encouraged continuous open dialogue and said that local insights are essential for designing relevant and impactful digital solutions. He emphasised that decisions made from outside the country often lack context, which is why Yango values close engagement with the government and industry stakeholders.
He concluded by noting that Yango is committed to delivering long-term national impact through practical technologies across ride-hailing, logistics, mapping, digital payments and other solutions that support Zambia’s development.
