Zambia Sets Global Example for Rural Digital Transformation
Zambia is paving the way for rural development through technology and digitalization, ensuring that no community is left behind. With comprehensive ICT policies and an Artificial Intelligence strategy, the country is creating a blueprint for inclusive digital growth.
A key partner in this transformation is Huawei, which is working alongside the government to develop smart villages. “We want every village to become smart,” said Wind Li, CEO of Huawei’s Global Public Sector Business Unit. “If every village becomes smart, then Zambia will become smart.”
The initiative took off following a visit by Zambia’s president to Huawei’s headquarters, where the two parties agreed to pilot the first smart village in Muchila, Namwala District, Southern Province. Today, Muchila boasts a mini-solar grid that powers a school, clinic, and teachers’ residences, while a RuralStar communications tower connects residents to the world.
The integration of connectivity, smart education, and reliable electricity is central to Zambia’s digital success. “When we analyzed Muchila, we realized that services, not just connectivity, were needed,” explained Li. “We built telecommunication base stations and installed solar panels to power them.”
As digital infrastructure expands, economic opportunities are following. Li noted that in China, rural farmers use platforms like TikTok to sell their produce, predicting that Zambian farmers will soon do the same.
Zambia’s model of rural digitalization offers a blueprint for other developing nations, proving that with the right infrastructure and policies, no community is too remote for progress.
