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As Zambia continues its journey of digital migration, the ZNDC will go a long way toward giving it the necessary infrastructure to handle big data and provide more IT services to its citizens.
In an address to Parliament in 2015, President Lungu announced plans to develop the Zambian National Data Centre (ZNDC), set to be an integral part of Smart Zambia 2030 Phase I, a program harnessing new technologies to transform the face of Zambia's service provision. Two years on, the USD75 million data management and storage facility has finally been launched. The ZNDC has been built to Tier-III standards, with 3 petabyte (PB) storage capacity, roughly equivalent to 3 million HD movies. The facility consists of a production center, software, and infrastructure services, and two back-up facilities and recovery sites located in Kitwe and Roma, respectively. A platform for providing hosting services to private and public sector institutions, the establishment of the ZNDC is a vital step in the move toward a fully electronic governmental system. As well as improving administration and efficiency in data management systems across the country, the center will also be a valuable tool in reducing ICT expenditure. ZNDC Ggeneral Manager Garry Mukelebai revealed to the press that the data center will be down for only 94 minutes a year, giving shareholders near-permanent access to their data.
The ZNDC was constructed by Huawei Technologies following the signing of a financing agreement between President Lungu and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit to China in 2015. A further USD365 million will be spent on the construction of a computer assembly plant, also located at the ZNDC, as well as on other initiatives as part of Smart Zambia. This funding was provided by the Export-Import Bank of China through so-called soft loans, or financing agreements with lending terms that are less grueling than average.
ICT services in Zambia are among the most expensive in the world. Although the country had, at last count, 6.1 million internet users and a penetration rate of 39%, this figure could be considerably higher if low-cost internet were successfully rolled out to all corners of the country, including rural communities. Minister of Transport and Communication, the Honorable Brian Mushimba, told TBY “The ZNDC is one of the key deliverables for Smart Zambia Phase I. As we continue the journey of digital migration for the country, we need the infrastructure to handle big data. The data center, one of the best in the region, with a backup in Ndola and a recovery center in Kitwe, gives us the infrastructure with which to start. We are excited about this installation, which is part of this government's bigger picture for providing e-services and ensuring the universal inclusion of our citizens using ICT and telecommunications countrywide."
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year In Review
What A Year
Zambia has long been a bastion of stability in Southern Africa, and while its economy has been rocked in recent years by the falling value of copper prices, a devaluating kwacha, and high inflation, through the Economic Recovery Program the government has bold ambitions to right the ship.
read articleReview
Convoke, Confound & Collect
Squeezed between a rock and a rather hard place by the slowdown in Chinese demand for copper, by far Zambia's biggest export and government-revenue generator, President Lungu has been forced to get creative in his country's alliances to broaden revenue streams and lessen its dependence on the vagaries of one foreign market.
read articleGuest Speaker
Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Executive Secretary, Southern African Development Community (SADC)
TBY talks to Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), on regional economic development, boosting pan-continental free trade agreements, and improving security through mutual development.
read articleInterview
Susan Sikaneta, Ambassador, Zambia to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa
TBY talks to Susan Sikaneta, Ambassador of Zambia to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa, on championing peace across the continent, advancing women's rights, and promoting Pan-Africanism.
read articleInterview
Sebastian C. Kopulande, CEO, Zambian International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC)
TBY talks to Sebastian C. Kopulande, CEO of Zambian International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC), on taming austerity, stimulating sustainable growth, and creating the framework to support entrepreneurship
read articleFocus: Zambia Plus
Adding it All Up
On October 20, 2016, at the 2017 Budget Address, Finance Minister Felix Mutati launched the government's economic recovery program, christened "Zambia Plus." The program is designed to spur domestic productivity, through strengthening ties and collaborating with external donors and developers.
read articleReview: Banking
Macroeconomics Rule the Roost
In its ongoing efforts to diversify away from one principal commodity, copper, the government fosters the development, standardization, and efficacy of the private sector. In doing so the systematic support of the financial universe, especially banks, is vital, as is the goal of financial inclusion.
read articleFocus: SME Growth
IMF support program
An IMF support program stands to provide Zambia with some much-needed discipline on its expenditure and operational efficiencies; however, many caution the need for Zambia to determine what it wants to achieve and how the program will benefit the country.
read articleInterview
Christabel M. Banda, Executive Director, Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ)
TBY talks to Christabel M. Banda, Executive Director of Insurers Association of Zambia (IAZ), on the evolution of the local insurance landscape, raising awareness, and tackling challenges in the sector.
read articleFocus: Solar
Sunny Side Up
As power demand continues to rise and power production continues to fall behind, it's the same old story for Zambia, still wrestling with an ongoing energy crisis. Public- and private-sector drives are seeking to mitigate this deficit by activating the country's solar industry.
read articleInterview
Margaret K. Chalwe-Mudenda, Director General, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)
TBY talks to Margaret K. Chalwe-Mudenda, Director General of Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), on new projects, the ZNDC, and expectations for the year ahead.
read articleInterview
Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister, Agriculture
TBY talks to Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister of Agriculture, on the investments being made in agriculture to enable agricultural households, diversifying Zambia's basket of produce, and making international markets more accessible for local producers.
read articleInterview
Hon. Charles R. Banda, Minister, Tourism and Arts
TBY talks to Hon. Charles R. Banda, Minister of Tourism and Arts, on the wealth of tourism destinations within Zambia, efforts to bring more visitors to the country, and what the Tourism Development Fund will contribute to developments.
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