SMART Zambia Unveils Landmark Partnerships to Accelerate Digital Transformation
The Electronic Government Division, SMART Zambia Institute, has announced two major strategic partnerships designed to fast-track Zambia’s digital transformation journey and expand e-Government capabilities. The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the Digital Government Africa (DGA 2025) Summit in Lusaka.
These groundbreaking collaborations underscore SMART Zambia’s commitment to building a secure, inclusive, and locally driven digital ecosystem that empowers citizens, promotes innovation, and enhances government service delivery.
SMART Zambia, inq Zambia, and Mezzanine Join Forces via the Helium Platform
The first partnership, SMART Zambia x inq Zambia x Mezzanine, will be powered by the Helium Platform, an innovative digital framework that enables government ministries and agencies to design, scale, and host digital solutions locally.
Operating under a Kwacha-based Service Level Agreement (SLA), this collaboration ensures that all transactions and support services remain domestically anchored, promoting local economic participation and sustainability.
Through this alliance, Zambia will strengthen its digital sovereignty, ensuring that government data, platforms, and services are securely managed within national borders.
“This partnership reflects our vision of creating a self-reliant, secure, and efficient digital government built on local capacity and innovation,” a SMART Zambia spokesperson noted.
SMART Zambia and VISA Sign MoU to Boost Digital Payments and Inclusion
The second major development saw SMART Zambia formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VISA, a global leader in digital payments. This partnership aims to enhance secure and inclusive payment systems across government platforms, enabling citizens to access and pay for e-Government services seamlessly.
By integrating digital payment infrastructure into government systems, the collaboration will:
- Promote financial inclusion across rural and urban communities.
- Strengthen trust and transparency in public service delivery.
- Drive adoption of cashless and secure digital transactions nationwide.
The SMART Zambia–VISA MoU is also expected to support the government’s broader goal of building a robust digital economy that serves all citizens equitably.
Pioneering Digital Self-Reliance in Africa
Together, these two landmark partnerships mark a pivotal step toward realising Zambia’s digital self-reliance—a vision where local skills, local data, and local solutions power sustainable national growth.
Through initiatives like the Helium Platform and VISA’s payment infrastructure, SMART Zambia is positioning the country as a regional leader in citizen-centric digital governance.
“Zambia’s digital future depends on collaboration, innovation, and inclusion,” said an official at the DGA 2025 Summit. “These partnerships demonstrate our readiness to lead Africa’s next phase of digital transformation.”
Driving Zambia’s Digital Agenda Forward
The new collaborations will accelerate key pillars of the Zambia Smart Nation Agenda, including:
- Strengthening government digitisation and interoperability.
- Expanding ICT infrastructure and digital payment ecosystems.
- Promoting local content development and capacity building.
As Zambia continues its march toward becoming a regional digital hub, SMART Zambia’s leadership in fostering homegrown innovation and global partnerships will remain central to its success.
