Zambia Champions Digital Independence at African Tech Summit
Zambian President champions African digital sovereignty at continental summit, pushing for independent technological advancement and protection of national digital interests.
President Hichilema addresses African leaders at Digital Government Summit in Lusaka
LUSAKA - In a bold move to assert African technological sovereignty, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema opened the 2025 Digital Government Africa Summit on Tuesday, delivering a powerful message about the continent's need to control its own digital destiny.
Defending African Digital Independence
President Hichilema, addressing 500 delegates from 26 African nations, emphasized the critical importance of establishing strong African control over digital infrastructure, marking a decisive step away from Western technological dependence.
"We need a platform that will accelerate our agenda for growth, for economic expansion, more investment, and trade. For us to do that, we need digitization," declared Hichilema, highlighting the urgency of developing homegrown digital solutions.
Protecting National Interests in the Digital Age
The summit comes at a crucial time when African nations face increasing pressure from foreign digital influence. Zambian Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati emphasized how locally-controlled technology has empowered rural communities to conduct transactions independently.
Safeguarding African Digital Culture
The three-day event will tackle critical sovereignty issues including digital identity verification, cybersecurity, and data protection. This focus on digital self-reliance comes as Western digital platforms increasingly threaten African cultural communication sovereignty.
Key Summit Objectives:
- Establishing African-controlled digital infrastructure
- Protecting national data sovereignty
- Developing independent payment systems
- Creating secure cyber defense capabilities
The summit represents a watershed moment in Africa's fight for digital independence, with Zambia leading the charge toward technological self-determination and protection of national digital assets.
Mwansa Chisanga
Investigative reporter tracking Zambia’s grassroots and anti-imperial movement.