LUSAKA — The Smart Zambia Institute has unveiled a redesigned e-government portal integrating services from the Department of Immigration, Zambia Revenue Authority and Patents and Companies Registration Agency.
Smart Zambia national coordinator Percy Chinyama said citizens can now track application status via SMS alerts, reducing the need for physical visits to government offices. The platform processed 12,000 transactions in its first week, though some users reported intermittent downtime during peak hours.
Cybersecurity experts at the Computer Association of Zambia praised two-factor authentication features but urged continuous penetration testing. Parliament’s Committee on Technology called for expanded rural access points at district councils where internet connectivity remains limited.
The upgrade supports Zambia’s digital transformation agenda and complements fibre rollout along the Tanzania-Zambia fibre optic cable corridor. Mobile network operators offered zero-rated access to the portal for 90 days to encourage adoption.
Civil servants’ unions requested training for front-desk staff whose roles may shift from processing paperwork to assisting digitally excluded citizens, particularly elderly applicants in rural constituencies.
