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Government has challenged African countries, development partners and the private sector to move beyond signing agreements and instead pursue practical partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to citizens as the continent accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
Speaking at the inaugural Inclusive Digitalisation in Eastern and Southern Africa (IDEA) Annual Digital Forum in Chongwe on Monday, Ministry of Science and Technology Permanent Secretary, Brilliant Haabenzu, said too many regional collaborations ended with memoranda of understanding, conferences and declarations without producing meaningful outcomes.
He urged governments and stakeholders to shift their focus from making commitments to implementing projects that improve connectivity, expand digital services and strengthen regional integration.
“Too often, partnerships remain symbolic, limited to memoranda of understanding, conferences and declarations. What we need are functional collaborations that deliver on the needs of citizens,” Haabenzu said.
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He said partnerships should be judged by the impact they have on people’s lives rather than the number of agreements signed.
“Partnerships must be judged not by the number of agreements signed, but by the number of lives transformed,” he said.
Haabenzu called for greater collaboration on joint digital infrastructure projects, shared innovation hubs, harmonised regulatory frameworks and cross-border digital services that citizens can easily access.
He warned that unless governments and their partners prioritise implementation, regional cooperation risks failing to achieve its intended objectives.
“If we fail to move from rhetoric to results, then our collaborations risk becoming hollow exercises that delay the very progress we seek,” he said.
Haabenzu said the IDEA Annual Digital Forum, held alongside the Third Project Steering Committee Meeting, provided an important opportunity for governments, development partners and the private sector to strengthen regional cooperation and agree on practical measures to accelerate digital transformation across Eastern and Southern Africa.
He reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to advancing regional digital integration through the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), saying the country would continue promoting harmonised digital policies and the sharing of best practices to support inclusive economic growth and regional prosperity.
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