MINISTER of Technology and Science Felix Mutati says government services will be digitised in order to promote convenience, reduce transaction costs and eliminate wastage of resources.

Launching the digital transformation targets for the first 100 days, Wednesday, Mutati said government would place particular priority on the digitisation of the national registration system to integrate systems for FISP, social cash transfer and youth empowerment funds.

“Following the pronouncement by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema which saw the creation of the Ministry, my team at the Ministry has undertaken several steps to spur its position as an enabler of economic development through technology and science. We have engaged a number of exchange ideas on how to create partnerships in moving the national technology and science, innovation and skills development agenda forward. The Ministry will create an enabling environment by putting in place a policy and legal framework that will support a digital economy,” Mutati said.

“We will put in place measures that will promote affordable access to digital infrastructure through enhancing connectivity, smart gadgets and service quality. Government services will be digitised in order to promote convenience, reduce transaction costs and eliminate wastage of resources in the delivery and accessing of public services. We will place particular priority on the digitisation of the national registration system to integrate system for FISP, social cash transfer and youth empowerment funds.”

Mutati said his Ministry would also up-skill citizens in order to have digital friendly citizens through a review of the curricula, creation of digital hubs, among others,

“My Ministry is determined to harness talented scientists and innovators especially youths whose role will be to culture technology innovations and ideas that will be turned into enterprises for not only employment creation, but overall economic growth. This will be implemented within various systems for youth innovators. We will upskill the citizens in order to have digital friendly citizens through a number of measures that will include the review of curricula, training of trainers, creation of digital hubs among others,” said Mutati.

And speaking at the same event, Zanaco chief executive officer Mukwandi Chibesakunda said technology had brought banking services to people’s doorsteps.

“Countries are prioritising science and technology as a driver in enhancing education, trade, health and commerce and Zambia needs to do so. In the banking sector, technology has brought banking services to the people’s doorstep and it is helping to narrow the financial inclusion gap because one is now able to access various financial services using their mobile phones,” said Chibesakunda.

“Zanaco has been a pioneer in Zambia’s digital banking having been the first bank to introduce ATM, the first bank to introduce mobile banking. So this digital transformation journey has made many successes such as the growth of Zanaco express agent which now stands at 15,000, which is the highest in the market.”