Cape Town, South Africa, May 24th, 2024, SZI… SMART Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama has said that Zambia has taken a significant step towards digital transformation by adopting open Government-to-Person (G2P) solutions in digital identity management.
Mr Chinyama said this during a workshop on Accelerating Sustainable Digital Transformation through Collaborative Efforts between GovStack and DPx at the ID4AFRICA 2024 conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mr Chinyama shared Zambia’s positive experience with the initiatives. GovStack, a building block for digital identity management and wallets, and DPx, a digital public infrastructure enabling the creation of digital public goods and services, have been instrumental in the country’s digital transformation journey.
“We recently adopted the G2P initiative, which offers practical and cost-effective solutions, and our experience has been good,” Mr Chinyama stated.
“In our drought relief program, we have seen the effectiveness of G2P, which is more efficient and cost-friendly than traditional ID systems. The e-KYC service has also been a game-changer, addressing our needs as a country still developing its digital ID portfolio. The e-KYC service has mitigated risks and concerns, and its timely implementation has been a significant milestone,” he said.
“I am pleased to announce that we are now rolling out the SMART Care Pro health management system to 2000 health facilities, where the e-KYC service was the missing link. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our digital transformation journey, and we look forward to continued collaboration with GovStack and DPx to drive sustainable development and improve the lives of our citizens. As a landlocked country, it has come in at the right time as we need to know who is consuming government services at the tail end,” Mr Chinyama explained
Mr Chinyama further emphasized that local capacities are the biggest gap in achieving sustainable digital transformation. He stated.
“Our role as SMART Zambia is to develop local capacity within the government and spread it across the private sector. This is crucial for ensuring that, our digital transformation efforts are sustainable and inclusive.”
He continued, “We need to build local expertise and capabilities to design, develop, and maintain digital public goods and services. This requires a collaborative effort between the government, private sector, and civil society to create a vibrant digital ecosystem that benefits all citizens.”
Mr. Chinyama’s remarks highlighted the importance of local capacity building in bridging the digital divide and achieving sustainable development goals. By empowering local talent and promoting digital literacy, Zambia can reduce its reliance on external expertise and create a self-sustaining digital economy.
“Zambia’s adoption of G2P in Digital Identity Management marks a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey. By prioritizing digital inclusion, security, and efficiency, the country is poised to emerge as a leader in digital transformation and inclusiveness,” he said.
As Mr Percy Chinyama emphasized, “This move will have a positive impact on the citizens of Zambia and contribute to the country’s economic growth and development.”