Sinazongwe: TECHzMagazine – News Desk
In a major push to bridge the digital divide and modernize public service delivery, the Sinazongwe Town Council has officially received a comprehensive digital infrastructure upgrade, courtesy of the e-Government Division under the SMART Zambia Institute. The deployment, aimed at digitizing local government operations, includes the installation of high-speed internet, advanced communication systems, and modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hardware.
The newly delivered infrastructure is designed to integrate the council into the broader Government Wide Area Network (GWAN) – a national initiative aimed at connecting all 116 local councils and government institutions to a secure, high-speed digital backbone. To ensure continuous operations in the face of ongoing electricity load-shedding, the deployment includes dedicated solar power equipment. The council has also been equipped with desktop computers and laptops for various departmental operations, telepresence systems to facilitate seamless virtual coordination with the central government, and robust network infrastructure for real-time data sharing.
Sinazongwe Town Council Secretary, Ms. Choolwe Maunga, welcomed the development, emphasizing that the initiative is not just about the hardware, but a structural shift toward a more efficient local government. The reliable connectivity and modern ICT tools will empower council staff to process documents more efficiently, participate in virtual governance meetings, and ultimately serve residents with a higher degree of transparency and accountability.
Ms. Joyce Mushiko, the Southern Province Principal ICT Officer for SMART Zambia, noted that the intervention aligns directly with the government’s mandate to transition away from physical paperwork. The deployment aims to facilitate data sharing across the entire governance system, ensuring local authorities are fully integrated into Zambia’s expanding e-Government ecosystem. To guarantee the sustainability of the project, SMART Zambia is concurrently conducting capacity-building and training sessions for local ICT personnel.
For the local community, the digital upgrade translates directly to improved municipal services. Residents can expect quicker processing times for permits, licenses, and official documents, as well as faster council response times to public inquiries and local administrative issues. Additionally, the improved connectivity will result in reduced administrative travel costs for council staff, allowing resources to be redirected toward local development. By empowering rural and district councils with robust digital tools, SMART Zambia continues its mission to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach every corner of the nation.
