Panos Institute Hosts Information Session on AI and Civic Participation
The Panos Institute of Southern Africa, with support from Diakonia Zambia under the Deepening Democracy Facility, convened an information session on artificial intelligence (AI) and civic participation, drawing policymakers, civil society leaders and media practitioners.
The event was officiated by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Technology and Science, Eng. Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, who underscored AI’s transformative role in reshaping governance, stimulating economic growth and deepening civic engagement.
Discussions explored AI’s vast potential, with global projections suggesting it could add trillions to economies and contribute as much as 8 per cent to Zambia’s GDP by 2030. Delegates highlighted opportunities for transparency, data-driven decision-making and citizen empowerment. However, concerns were also raised around algorithmic bias, misinformation, data privacy and the erosion of democratic values if AI systems remain unregulated.
Dr Habeenzu reaffirmed government’s commitment under President Hakainde Hichilema to strengthen Zambia’s digital governance framework. Key initiatives include the National AI Strategy and the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, both designed to promote digital skills training, innovation hubs, regulatory reforms and partnerships with academia, civil society and the private sector. The strengthening of the Data Protection Act was also identified as a priority.
The session emphasised the central role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in promoting responsible AI adoption through community awareness, advocacy for inclusion and digital literacy initiatives. Collaboration across government, CSOs, media and business was deemed critical to building an ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem.
Participants also noted AI’s potential to drive entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly for youth and women, with applications already emerging in agriculture, healthcare, fintech and e-commerce.
The session concluded with a call for collective action to ensure AI strengthens democracy, inclusion and accountability in Zambia, rather than undermining them.
