The Panos Institute of Southern Africa, with support from Diakonia Zambia under the Deepening Democracy Facility, organized an information session on artificial intelligence (AI) and civic participation. The session, officiated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Technology and Science, Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu highlighted the transformative role of AI in reshaping governance, economic growth, and civic engagement.
Key issues discussed included:
– AI’s economic potential, with projections showing it could add trillions globally and up to 8% of Zambia’s GDP by 2030.
– Opportunities for enhancing transparency, data-driven decision-making, and citizen empowerment.
– Risks such as algorithmic bias, misinformation, data privacy, and the erosion of democratic values if AI is left unchecked.
– The government’s commitment under President Hakainde Hichilema to establish policies and legal frameworks, strengthen the Data Protection Act, and align AI governance with international best practices.
– The launch of the National AI Strategy and the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, aimed at digital skills training, innovation hubs, regulatory reforms, and partnerships with academia, civil society, and the private sector.
The session highlighted the crucial role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting responsible AI use, raising community awareness, advocating for inclusion, and enhancing digital literacy. Collaboration among government, CSOs, media, and the private sector was identified as key to building an ethical, inclusive AI ecosystem.
AI was recognized as a driver of digital entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly for youth and women. With AI-powered innovations in sectors such as agriculture, health, fintech, and e-commerce, Zambia has the potential to harness technology for sustainable development.
The information session concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to ensure AI strengthens democracy, inclusion, and accountability, rather than undermining them.
