"Zambia and Huawei Join Hands for Digital Transformation: President Hichilema Witnesses Historic MoU Signing"

On September 11, 2023, a significant moment in Zambia's digital evolution unfolded as the Ministry of Technology and Science of Zambia inked a momentous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global tech giant, Huawei, setting the stage for the nation's digital transformation.

The MoU signing ceremony, held at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, brought together Zambia's Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, and Huawei's Vice President of Southern Africa Region, Phil Li. This landmark agreement signifies a resolute commitment to propel Zambia into a digitalized future, characterized by enhanced ICT infrastructure, the promotion of renewable energy adoption, support for innovation, and the widespread availability of dependable and affordable digital services nationwide.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema graced the occasion with his presence, addressing the gathering with enthusiasm and foresight. He articulated, "We recognize the urgent need to rapidly develop our country's digital platforms as part of our smart economic transformation agenda. We, therefore, consider Huawei as a reliable partner in this regard, with their innovations and pioneering strength in ICT technologies driven by its heavy R&D investment." President Hichilema also extended his congratulations to Huawei for nurturing Zambia's ICT talents, expressing his anticipation of a closer collaboration to foster a thriving ICT ecosystem in Zambia.

Leo Chen, Huawei's President of Southern Africa Region, also shared his perspective on this historic agreement. He emphasized that this MoU signifies a new chapter in the collaboration between the Zambian government and Huawei. He added that Huawei is inspired by Zambia's vision to achieve its Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) and is fully dedicated to contributing more to Zambia's industrial digitalization and ICT infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas.

Mr. Chen underscored the importance of cultivating a flourishing ICT talent pool to underpin the nation's future progress. He pledged, "Huawei is fully behind the Zambian government's commitment to equip its younger generations with digital skills. Huawei will continuously provide training to young people in Zambia so they can participate in and benefit from the digital economy."

Huawei's presence in Zambia dates back to 2004, and since then, it has collaborated with partners to deliver digital services and construct secure and robust ICT infrastructure, including data centers and advanced wireless networks like 4G and 5G. The MoU solidifies the commitment to promote rural connectivity, with hundreds of villages across Zambia poised to reap its benefits.

Minister Felix Mutati summarized the significance of inclusive connectivity, emphasizing how it empowers the government to deliver better services, enables businesses to achieve robust growth, and enhances the quality of life for all citizens. He affirmed, "Therefore, we must continue to enhance the inclusiveness of digital infrastructure and digital services, which is one of the key elements of the MoU that we signed today."