Zambia To Establish An AI Framework

ByJoan Kaberia June 28, 2024

2 min read

The government is currently crafting an AI Strategy in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute, an organization renowned for its expertise in advising governments on strategy, policy, and implementation.

Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati, has unveiled Zambia’s ongoing efforts to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework. This announcement took place at the Future of AI in Africa Conference in Lusaka, where Mutati outlined the country’s progress and future plans in AI development.

Mutati highlighted that the government is currently crafting an AI Strategy in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute, an organization renowned for its expertise in advising governments on strategy, policy, and implementation. In addition to this, Zambia is also collaborating with the European Union (EU) to create a Startup Bill, which aims to foster a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship

The Minister, who published the announcement via an X post, during the Future of AI in Africa Conference launch in Lusaka, said the government is actively revising the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, a key player in facilitating the deployment of AI. Mutati has called on Zambians to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI), asserting that it is here to stay and will significantly improve everyday life.

In May 2024, at the Copperbelt Agricultural Mining Industrial Networking Enterprise (CAMINEX) event in Kitwe, Mutati shared that the government had completed drafting the AI strategy, harnessing the benefits of the latest technologies. At the time, Mutati announced that the AI strategy would be slated for launch in the following two months — July 2024.

Speaking at a side event at the CAMINEX in Kitwe, Mutati reassured the public stating “AI is here to stay, and Zambians must not fear its existence or the loss of jobs.” He said that Artificial Intelligence will bring a lot of economic benefits to the country and that it has the potential to help Zambia achieve its ambition to start producing three million tonnes of copper annually through enhanced exploration.

Zambia is not alone in its pursuit of AI integration. In April 2024, Nigeria enlisted 120 experts to develop a co-created framework to promote AI adoption, securing $3.5 million in seed funding from potential partners. Similarly, South Africa is considering AI regulation and plans to establish an AI Expert Advisory Council to guide policy creation and implementation.