On Friday, Zambia launched an innovative smart village project in Namwala, located in the southern district, with sponsorship from Chinese firm Huawei Technologies.
The project, featuring a communication tower and a solar power system capable of electrifying numerous homes, marks a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Zambia.
At the launch ceremony, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema expressed gratitude to Huawei Technologies Zambia for their support, emphasizing how the project aligns with the government’s digital agenda aimed at fostering development in rural areas.
During the event, Huawei Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding with the Zambian government to establish 100 smart villages across the country’s 10 provinces.
Wang Sheng, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, highlighted that this initiative underscores the commitment of the Chinese government and Chinese companies to the pledges made to enhance Zambia’s digitalization efforts during President Hichilema’s state visit to China last year.
Wang also noted that the establishment of 100 smart villages is anticipated to provide electricity and internet access to 400,000 villagers and create over 5,000 new jobs.
Phil Li, Huawei’s Vice President for the Southern Africa region, stated that the company is eager to collaborate with various partners to bridge the digital divide in Zambia and contribute to the country’s digital transformation.
Li further mentioned that the smart village project is the beginning of Huawei’s efforts to ensure that no Zambian village is left behind in terms of electricity access.
