Zambia to Launch its AI strategy

Zambia is set to launch its AI Strategy in October, coinciding with the country’s 60th independence anniversary. Felix Mutati, the Minister of Science and Technology, recently revealed that the AI strategy will be unveiled on October 24 this year, which will mark six decades since the nation’s attainment of self-rule from Britain.

Speaking at the Corporate Governance Conference and Gala Awards in the town of Livingstone, Mutati said, “The launch of the AI strategy will signify the rebirth of Zambia at 60 years old and show that the nation’s economy will now be powered by AI going forward.”

At the event, Mutati revealed the government has been working with the Tony Blair Institute and the Finnish Government to devise the AI Strategy. Addressing the fear of losing jobs to AI, he added, “AI has come to promote productivity and efficiency. It has not come to get your (Zambians’) jobs. It has come to enhance your work.”

Expectedly, the AI policy would allow Zambia to leverage this technology to grow its economy.

The move to establish a framework for artificial intelligence (AI) is not unique to Zambia within the African continent. In April 2024, Nigeria took a significant step by bringing together 120 experts to craft a co-created framework aimed at fostering the adoption of AI in the country.