(This Document is the Property of the Government of the Republic of
Zambia)
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications
World Summit on the Information Society
Geneva, Switzerland
25th – 29th May, 2015
Policy Statement on Zambia’s Implementation Status on the
WSIS Action Lines
May, 2015
The Chairman of the Session
Distinguished Honourable Ministers and your Delegations
Excellences
Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
I bring to you the warm and fraternal greetings from the
Government and People of the Republic of Zambia as we
convene here in the beautiful city of Geneva to deliberate the
implementation of the WSIS under the theme ‘Enabling ICTs
for
Sustainable
opportunity
to
Development’.
congratulate
I
wish to
the
take
this
International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) for turning 150 years and for
its huge contribution to the growth of the global ICT industry.
Zambia as a Member State has benefitted immensely from
the ITU’s continued commitment to connecting the world.
I also wish to congratulate ITU Secretary General Mr. Houlin
Zhao for this first WSIS Meeting since his election to the
position.
Chairperson
Zambia has taken important steps to achieve progress on
applying Information and Communications Technologies
(ICTs) as an enabler of socio-economic development that is
enhancing the way services are delivered within and outside
Government and in sectors such as Health, Education
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Agriculture and Manufacturing. Our country has in the last
few years recorded an increase in the adoption and
utilisation of ICTs by our people, and this development has
seen a resounding transformation in the lives of our
nationals.
The
Zambian
Government
is
implementing
various
interventions in the ICT Sector which are aimed at achieving
targets laid down under the WSIS Action Lines. These
interventions include development and enhancement of ICT
infrastructure, provision of electronic services, extending the
National Postal Branch Network, promotion of the media and
consistent review of the Legal and Regulatory framework. In
this regard, Government has positioned ICT as a prime
facilitator to provide the tools for good governance, support
the activities of all sectors of the economy and above all,
promote entrepreneurship and use ICT to facilitate job
creation.
Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,
In collaboration with the relevant players in the ICT sector,
the Government has pursued various programmes and
projects, highlights of which are as follows:1. The Government of Zambia continues to support the
development
of
the
national
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ICT
Infrastructure
backbone which connects to undersea optic fibre
gateways
through
Tanzania,
Malawi,
Zimbabwe,
Namibia and Botswana. The fibre optic network will
connect all 106 Districts of the country with particular
emphasis on connectivity to rural settlements and
unserved areas
2. Government has taken full advantage of the rapid
growth
in
mobile
communication
penetration
by
utilising funds from the Universal Access and Service
Fund to extend GSM mobile communications towers in
204 unserved areas. In the next cycle, 400 GSM
communication towers will be constructed in targeted
rural areas to ensure 100% coverage in un-served areas.
3. The
Installation
of
Transmitters
to
facilitate
the
migration from analogue to digital has been completed
in some major towns of the country.
In 2014,
Government commenced the construction of provincial
broadcasting studios in five (5) provincial centres to
stimulate production of localised content and viewing
experience.
4. In order to facilitate the implementation of the electronic
Government Programme, Government has implemented
the Electronic VISA system that enables online VISA
4
application and processing as well as the online Tax
filing and payment system. Government has also
interconnected
22
Government
Ministries
and
institutions and ten (10) Public Service Agencies to a
Government Wide Area Network.
5. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)
coordinated by Government through the ICT regulator,
continues
to
provide
security
and
confidence
in
utilisation of ICTs. Zambia has in collaboration with the
ITU, developed the Child Online Protection and the
Cyber Security draft strategies respectively.
6. Government has commenced the construction of 32 new
post offices in unserved rural areas in addition to the
existing 125 post offices with a view
to utilise Post
Offices to deliver e-Government services. A selected
number of Post offices have also been incorporated in a
pilot Public Access project in collaboration with the ICT
regulator to offer Telecentre services to the local
communities.
7. The Government has in the last two years, implemented
a young ICT innovators programme and established an
innovators’
fund.
Government
has
further
more
commenced implementation of the integration of ICT in
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the elementary education curriculum. In the programme
to
promote
Girls
in
ICTs
initiative,
Government
commenced the facilitation of ICT industry visits and
sensitization activities to enhance girls’ participation in
the use of ICTs as well as introduced initiatives to
promote access to ICTs for persons with disabilities.
Chairperson
As part of the commemoration of ITU’s 150 years, the
Government almost a fortnight ago, in collaboration with the
regulator, presented ICT Recognition and Innovation Awards
to various business entities as well as organizations being
run by young people who have been promoting Girls in ICTs
initiatives and ICT innovation among the youth. This was in
appreciation of efforts by industry players which have
resulted in the Zambian ICT industry being recognized one of
the fastest growing in the recent past.
Chairperson
Zambia remains committed to fulfilling the WSIS Plan of
Action and remains open to learn lessons and acquire
knowledge from countries that have made progress in
implementing the WSIS Action lines.
I Thank You
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