Sinazongwe Town Council in Zambia’s Southern Province has received a digital infrastructure upgrade aimed at improving public service delivery, strengthening connectivity and reducing the digital divide in the province.
The e-Government Division of the SMART Zambia Institute has deployed high-speed internet, advanced communication systems and modern ICT equipment at the council as part of Zambia’s broader efforts to digitise government operations.
The new infrastructure is expected to help council staff process documents more efficiently, participate in virtual meetings and communicate more effectively with central government and other local authorities.
The deployment includes telepresence systems for virtual meetings, desktop computers and laptops for different departments, as well as solar power equipment to support continued operations during periods of electricity load-shedding.
Council Secretary Choolwe Maunga said the intervention goes beyond providing computers, highlighting its role in improving efficiency, transparency and access to government services. Reliable connectivity and modern ICT tools are expected to enable staff to serve residents more effectively.
The initiative forms part of Zambia’s Government Wide Area Network (GWAN), which seeks to connect all 116 councils and government institutions to a secure, high-speed digital backbone. The network is intended to strengthen integration of government services and improve data sharing across different levels of administration.
Southern Province Principal ICT Officer Joyce Mushiko said the deployment supports SMART Zambia’s mandate to digitise government operations, reduce reliance on physical paperwork and enable real-time data sharing across the governance system.
Training is also being provided to local ICT personnel to ensure the newly deployed systems are properly used and maintained. The capacity-building component is intended to support sustainable adoption of digital systems at the council.
For residents, the upgrade could support faster processing of permits, quicker responses to enquiries and improved accountability in local government services. The council is also expected to benefit from reduced travel costs, stronger coordination with Lusaka and greater use of data in decision-making.
The deployment represents another step in Zambia’s efforts to extend digital government infrastructure beyond major urban centres and strengthen the ability of local authorities to participate in the country’s expanding e-Government ecosystem.
