Metro

Zambia’s quest for digital literacy: Challenges and prospects

Published

3 months ago

August 27, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Digital literacy in Zambia is critical for economic growth, education, and social development.

However, significant challenges remain that need to be addressed by the government and various stakeholders.

Despite the surge in access to technology, such as phones and computers, many Zambians still lack access to these devices, internet connectivity, and essential digital tools.

This has resulted in a noticeable skills gap, highlighting the need for training in basic computer skills, online safety and digital citizenship.

Stakeholders, including the Internet Society Zambia Chapter (ISZC), have called for digital literacy to be integrated into school curricula to equip students with essential skills.

Levy Syanseke stressed the importance of improving internet connectivity and digital infrastructure, noting that these are vital for widespread digital literacy.

“There is low internet penetration and low digital literacy rates, and the efforts by the government and stakeholders have been insufficient. The focus has been on social media usage rather than leveraging the internet for economic benefits,” Syanseke said.

He pointed out that while mobile penetration is high, digital literacy and internet usage remain low, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the government, private organizations, and stakeholders.

Syanseke proposed several improvements, including supporting initiatives that bridge the digital divide, offering digital education programmes with offline access to educational content, and using alternative energy solutions to address power issues.

Given Zambia’s linguistic diversity, it has been recommended that digital content be made available in local languages to increase accessibility.

Additionally, addressing disparities in access to technology and digital skills between urban and rural areas is essential.

Clement Sinyangwe, President of the Information, Communication, and Technology Association of Zambia (ICTAZ), highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving digital literacy in the country.

“Government programmes, such as the ‘Smart Zambia’ project, aim to enhance digital literacy and infrastructure, including the distribution of computers to schools,” Sinyangwe said.

He echoed Syanseke’s sentiments about the need for private sector involvement in digital literacy efforts, citing companies like Zambia Telecommunications Company, which are already offering digital literacy training.

Sinyangwe mentioned that non-profit organizations, such as the Zambia Digital Literacy Project, provide training and resources, while local initiatives, like digital literacy clubs, promote digital skills in communities.

“By addressing these challenges and supporting initiatives, Zambia can enhance digital literacy, thereby promoting economic growth, education and social development,” he stated.

Sinyangwe stated that the responsibility for digital literacy does not rest solely with the government but also with citizens, organizations and private schools.

He noted that private schools and organizations can help finance and support digital literacy initiatives, complementing government efforts.

“We can leverage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to mobilise resources, expertise and funding to support digital literacy programmes,” Sinyangwe added, stressing the importance of collective action to champion digital literacy in Zambia.

Irene Chikatula, a Social and Public Affairs Analyst, noted that the Zambian school curriculum is still in its infancy regarding digital literacy.

“A few fortunate pupils in urban areas learn the theoretical basics of computers, often without access to the actual devices,” Chikatula said.

She highlighted the case of Rufunsa district, where more than half of the shortlisted applicants for Census jobs were disqualified after failing a digital aptitude test due to a lack of digital literacy.

Chikatula emphasized the need to introduce skills-based subjects or integrate skills learning into existing subjects.

“This is not just about the National Census, which occurs every ten years. School pupils need exposure to technical and skills subjects to be well-prepared for the professional world,” she said.

According to the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), there were 6.52 million internet users in Zambia at the start of 2024, with internet penetration at 31.2 percent.

The country also had 3.55 million social media users as of January 2024, representing 17 percent of the population, which stands at slightly over 20 million.

Additionally, 16.40 million cellular mobile connections were active in Zambia, equating to 78.7 percent of the total population.

This story is sponsored by Project Aliyense.

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Metro

Zambia: APP leader lampoons PF over pledge to reverse forfeited properties

Published

9 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Leader of one of Zambia’s opposition parties, Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP), Mwenye Musenge, has criticised the Patriotic Front (PF) over its promise to reverse forfeited properties if the party won the 2026 presidential election.

Musenge, who was reacting to a statement credited to the PF Member of Parliament (MP) for Lukashya Province, George Chisanga, described the PF’s promise as a betrayal, saying the declaration had exposed the party’s disregard for accountability and justice.

The APP leader, who spoke to Zambia Monitor in a telephone interview from Kitwe, expressed shock that Chisanga, a former Law Association of Zambia president, would endorse what he termed a “regressive agenda,” accusing the PF of prioritising the protection of corrupt individuals over the welfare of citizens.

“This declaration reveals the PF’s true intentions, returning to power not to serve Zambians, but to shield their corrupt network and restore stolen assets,” Musenge said.

He alleged that former President Edgar Lungu’s consistent calls to protect his family, who he claimed cannot explain their amassed wealth, further demonstrate the party’s self-serving mission.

Musenge further described the PF as “a political carcass animated by greed and nostalgia for its days of unchecked looting,” and accused its leaders of leaving Zambia impoverished while enriching themselves.

“Allowing them near power again would be akin to handing a butcher’s knife to a thief already drenched in the blood of the nation’s resources.

“The PF represents everything wrong with Zambian politics—a relic of the past clinging to survival through recycled lies and corrupt agendas,” he added.

Musenge went on to call for the party to be permanently eradicated, saying it had no vision, morality, or credibility to serve Zambians.

Metro

Nigerian Senate confirms influx of terrorists from Mali, Burkina Faso into the country

Published

16 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian Senate has raised the alarm over the influx of terrorists from Mali and Burkina Faso who operate in the name of Lakurawa, into Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States in the northern parts of the country.

The Upper Chamber, which raised the alarm during plenary on Wednesday, called on the military to set up early warning mechanisms to forestall further incursions by terrorist groups as well as maintain presence and vigilance in the affected communities to halt the activities of the terror group from spreading further across the region.

The resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion titled, “Urgent need for the federal government to take stringent measures to stop the infiltration of a group of violent terrorists, known as Lakurawa, from entrenching themselves in some northwest states of Sokoto and Kebbi,” and was sponsored by the senator representing Kebbi North, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, and co- sponsored by Senators Adamu Aliero, from Kebbi Central, and Garba Musa Maidoki, representing Kebbi South.

While presenting the motion, Senator Abdullahi said:

“The Senate is aware that a group of terrorists from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, known as Lakurawa, has infiltrated the country through the Nigeria-Niger border, at Illela, Tangaza and Silame Local Government Areas of Sokoto and are from there, attacking communities in Augie and Arewa LGAs in Kebbi State.

“Recall that this violent gang of terrorists had raided and dispossessed these communities, prior to the large-scale invasion of Mera, a village in Augie Local Government, on November 8, 2024, killing more than 20 people and fleeing with their livestock, amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.

“Senate is aware that Kebbi State government promptly responded by sending a delegation with relief materials to the affected villages and assistance to the families of the deceased.

“Aware that Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi North Central) and Senator Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), along with some members of the House of Representatives from Kebbi State, have been to those areas, to commiserate with victims of the attacks on behalf of the National Assembly.

“Aware that if timely, adequate and decisive measures are not taken, this group can spread its reign of terror to other northern parts of the country and beyond.

“Notes the prompt response of the ministry of defence and the armed forces who despatched a well-armed military response squad that was able to dislodge the terrorists and secured the release of herds of cattle and other livestock stolen by the terrorists. These foreigners have invaded the country.

“We need to nip the situation in the bud, they have international connections, heavily armed with very dangerous weapons, the federal government should take the matter very seriously.

‘These terrorists are well armed with highly sophisticated weapons, this is a very serious matter on national security, they control the whole of Northern Mali and now attacking Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and others. The time to act is now, we have to take action on how to tame terrorism.”

He said the Senate should revisit past resolutions on terrorism and send them to the Presidency for immediate action.

”I want us to recall what happened in the 8th and 9th Senates. We discussed extensively how we can stem the tide of banditry and terrorism. We made far-reaching recommendations, and we asked the Executive arm of government to implement those resolutions.

“It is still relevant for us to insist that those resolutions should be implemented, if we do so, it will reduce the incidences of banditry and insurgency in the country. We can reduce it to the barest minimum.”