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Democratic Union (DU) President, Ackim Njobvu, has called for the establishment of an Office of the Innovation General through an Act of Parliament to drive a national innovation agenda, oversee the creation of innovation hubs and regional data centres, and introduce national innovation awards to promote creativity and technological advancement.
Njobvu outlined the proposal in a statement detailing an ambitious technology and innovation plan aimed at reshaping Zambia’s economic future by placing science, engineering and research at the center of national development.
He explained that the vision included the creation of a National Technology and Innovation Corporation, a complex bringing together agriculture, health, mining, aviation and automobile engineering, as well as electronics, under one integrated ecosystem.
The facility would feature laboratories, simulation centres and digital innovation spaces intended to strengthen cross-sector research and support the commercialisation of homegrown ideas.
He said the central innovation hub would also accommodate international conferences, artificial intelligence laboratories and collaborative workspaces designed to attract partnerships between researchers, industry players and leading technology institutions.
Njobvu expressed confidence that innovation-led development could unlock Zambia’s industrial potential and urged the public to support ideas that promote national self-reliance and economic transformation.
He emphasised that the agenda included the establishment of Technology and Innovation Centres across the country, focusing on research and development, with part of the funding expected from a proposed allocation of 0.5 percent from the Chiefdom Development Levy.
Under the agriculture component, he said the corporation would promote vertical farming systems, hydroponics, precision agriculture laboratories and renewable-energy-powered greenhouses.
For the health sector, the focus would be on biotechnology research, pharmaceutical innovation, AI-driven diagnostic tools and telemedicine services.
Njobvu added that the mining and aviation wings would involve geological research laboratories, resource mapping data centres, drone testing zones and flight simulation facilities, while the automobile and electronics divisions would focus on electric vehicle design, robotics, semiconductor development, smart mobility technology and PCB prototyping.
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