Harness AI to strengthen democracy, inclusion, accountability —Zambian govt urges stakeholders

Government has called on stakeholders to work together to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) strengthens democracy, inclusion, and accountability rather than undermining them.

Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, underscored AI’s transformative role in reshaping governance, economic growth, and civic engagement in the country.

He made the remarks during an information session on AI and civic participation organized by the Panos Institute of Southern Africa, with support from Diakonia Zambia under the Deepening Democracy Facility, held at Grand Palace Hotel in Lusaka on Thursday.

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.

“With AI-powered innovations in sectors such as agriculture, health, fintech, and e-commerce, Zambia has the potential to harness technology for sustainable development,” Habeenzu stated.

He emphasized that collaboration among government, CSOs, media, and the private sector was vital to building an ethical and inclusive AI ecosystem.

Habeenzu noted that AI could be a driver of digital entrepreneurship and job creation, particularly for youth and women, citing projections that AI could add trillions globally and contribute up to 8 percent of Zambia’s GDP by 2030.

He further pointed to opportunities such as enhancing transparency, data-driven decision-making, and citizen empowerment, while warning of risks including algorithmic bias, misinformation, data privacy concerns, and the erosion of democratic values if left unchecked.

“The government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, is committed to establishing policies and legal frameworks, strengthening the Data Protection Act, and aligning AI governance with international best practices,” Habeenzu said.

He added that the forthcoming National AI Strategy and the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy would focus on digital skills training, innovation hubs, regulatory reforms, and partnerships with academia, civil society, and the private sector.

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