Reported by: S. Ernest.
Date: 31st January, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
The Zambian government has successfully concluded the first phase of training for the Government Service Bus (GSB) system (ZamPortal), marking a crucial step in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
A total of 49 public and private sector developers received training in quality assurance, business analysis, solution development and DevOps.
The initiative, led by the Electronic Government Division (SMART Zambia Institute) and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MFNP), aims to enhance local capacity in managing and expanding the GSB platform.
SMART Zambia Institute National Coordinator, Mr. Percy Chinyama, emphasized that the training fosters collaboration between the public and private sectors, driving the continued digitalization of government services.
“This milestone is not just for individuals but for the entire country as we work toward improving livelihoods through technology,” he stated.
He also underscored President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision to position Zambia as a leader in digital services, citing the Citizen’s Support Portal and the National e-KYC System as key initiatives that will pave the way for digital national IDs and driver’s licenses.
Accountant General Ms. Nsandi Manza reaffirmed the New Dawn Government’s commitment to a strong digital foundation, highlighting the GSB’s success in generating over 4.5 billion kwacha in non-tax revenue and serving over 700,000 active users across 320 electronic government services.
“By investing in local expertise, we ensure rapid expansion while maintaining the integrity of our digital platforms,” she noted.
Mr. Andrew Chipwende, Director General of the Zambia Public-Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF), praised the government’s efforts to build in-house technical capacity, reducing reliance on external expertise.
He also commended partnerships with high-tech private firms to onboard more public services onto the GSB.
The training, which included participants from SMART Zambia, IHM, Blue Code Systems, Corelink and MFNP, equipped developers with the skills needed to maintain and expand Zambia’s digital infrastructure.
As Zambia advances its digital transformation, the New Dawn Government remains committed to fostering local expertise.
The next phase of training will focus on hands-on system development, further strengthening the country’s digital service delivery.
Ministry of Finance and National Planning, #mofnp, Lusaka-Zambia
SMART Zambia – e-Government Division
The Agency