13th JULY 2026
The Ministry of Technology and Science, in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat and the World Bank, officially launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sensitisation Workshop in Lusaka. The workshop forms part of the Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) Programme, which seeks to promote the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies across the region.
The workshop was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka. The stakeholder engagement marks the first structured activity under the Stakeholder Engagement Plan for the AI and Emerging Technologies Consultancy. It aims to build awareness, strengthen institutional capacity, gather country-specific inputs, and support the development of harmonised regional AI policies and regulatory frameworks.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, COMESA Secretariat Representative Mr. Leonard Chitundu said the stakeholder engagements combine awareness creation, capacity building, and structured consultations to ensure that future policy recommendations are evidence-based, inclusive, and aligned with regional harmonisation objectives. He noted that Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies present significant opportunities to improve public service delivery, enhance productivity, stimulate innovation, and facilitate cross-border digital services.
Mr. Chitundu further emphasised that COMESA is committed to promoting a coordinated regional approach that maximises the benefits of AI while addressing key challenges such as data governance, ethical use of AI, consumer and user protection, cybersecurity, skills development, and regulatory preparedness.
In his keynote address, Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu underscored the importance of consultative engagement in positioning Zambia and the COMESA region to harness the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence. He highlighted AI’s growing impact across critical sectors, including agriculture through predictive analytics, healthcare through diagnostic support systems, education through adaptive learning technologies, and finance through digital inclusion solutions.
The Permanent Secretary observed that Artificial Intelligence is projected to contribute more than US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with Africa expected to realise approximately US$1.2 trillion if AI adoption is accelerated responsibly. He stressed that without harmonised policy and regulatory frameworks, Zambia and other COMESA Member States risk fragmented approaches, inconsistent safeguards, and missed opportunities for economic growth and innovation.
Dr. Habeenzu stated that the workshop seeks to achieve several key objectives, including developing a shared understanding of AI opportunities and risks, identifying Zambia’s policy, regulatory, and institutional gaps, contributing to the formulation of a regional AI Strategy, model policy guidelines, and regulatory frameworks under the IDEA Programme, as well as identifying high-impact AI use cases across priority sectors.
He reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to inclusive digital transformation through continued investments in broadband infrastructure, e-Government services, cybersecurity, digital identity systems, and digital payment platforms. He noted that mobile broadband penetration in Zambia increased to 72 percent in 2025, compared to less than 40 percent a decade ago, while more than 300 communication towers have been constructed since 2022 to expand digital connectivity nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary further highlighted Zambia’s collaboration with COMESA and the World Bank under the US$2.48 billion IDEA Programme, which supports more than 15 countries in expanding digital access, strengthening digital infrastructure, and harmonising policy frameworks. He noted that the programme places particular emphasis on ensuring the meaningful participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and small and medium enterprises in the digital economy.
Dr. Habeenzu emphasised that the recommendations emerging from the stakeholder consultations will contribute significantly to Zambia’s national AI agenda while informing the development of the COMESA Regional Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Regional Digital Inclusion Strategy.
He stated that the success of Africa’s digital future will depend on strong partnerships among government institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society, development partners, and regional organisations. Such collaboration, he said, is essential for driving innovation, strengthening digital skills, building public trust, expanding connectivity, and creating an inclusive digital economy that delivers sustainable socio-economic benefits for all citizens.
