Britain agrees deals on clean energy, critical minerals with Zambia
LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday said it had agreed deals with Zambia on clean energy and critical minerals as foreign minister James Cleverly ends a four-day visit to Africa to deepen ties.
Cleverly has used the trip, which fell shortly after a coup in Niger, to seek to enhance Britain's sway in Africa, welcoming regional talks on the Niger crisis and announcing support for Nigeria's agriculture sector.
The foreign ministry said Cleverly would agree a UK-Zambia Green Growth Compact, aimed at generating 2.5 billion pounds ($3.17 billion) of British private sector investment in Zambia's mining, minerals and renewable energy sectors alongside 500 million pounds of government-backed investments.
"The UK-Zambia Green Growth Compact and our landmark agreement on critical minerals will support investment between UK and Zambian business, creating jobs in both countries," Cleverly said.
Zambia is a major copper producer, and also has deposits of critical minerals such as cobalt, manganese and nickel. Last year Britain emphasised the importance of diversifying its supply chains in a critical mineral strategy.
Cleverly will visit a copper mine in Zambia and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on critical minerals, which Britain said would "lay the foundation for further UK support for the responsible mining of copper, cobalt and other metals essential to the global clean energy transition."
Britain has agreed to deepen collaboration on critical minerals with other countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia.
This article originally appeared on Reuters
Kenyan retail-tech startup Wasoko expands to Zambia
Kenyan retail-tech startup Wasoko, which leverages innovative technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, has expanded into Zambia, the company’s first location in Southern Africa.
Launched in 2016 as Sokowatch, Wasoko provides free same-day delivery of essential goods and financing to informal retail stores across Africa. The platform enables retailers to order products at any time via SMS or mobile app and receive delivery through its proprietary logistics network to their store.
The startup has delivered over 2.5 million orders to over 50,000 informal retailers across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, and in March of last year banked a US$125 million Series B round for further expansion.
It has now announced its expansion into Zambia, its first location in Southern Africa. Wasoko will invest over US$1 million in its first year of operations to support local Zambian businesses and communities to get more essential goods for less through the power of e-commerce.
Launching its central hub in Lusaka, Wasoko’s operations will enable small retailers across the city to access an affordable range of products for same-day delivery and working capital financing solely through the convenience of a mobile app. The formation of Lusaka as a central hub is also part of Wasoko’s company-wide pivot to a hub and spoke logistics network to drive stronger operational efficiency and significantly boost its capacity for faster regional expansions.
“As we drive ahead with the next phase of our growth journey, it’s vital that the operating environments of our future markets are conducive to our ambitions and Zambia provides exactly this. With high smartphone usage and a pro-business government administration keen on expanding the country’s digital economy, Zambia is an ideal environment to launch our model and strongly aligns with our current core markets, both in terms of similar regulatory practices and a supplier base which is intertwined with East Africa,” said Daniel Yu, founder and global CEO at Wasoko.
“With this in mind, we’re confident that our new launch will not only play a huge role in accelerating our existing progress across the continent, but also significantly strengthen the purchasing power of everyday citizens in Zambia and enhance their livelihoods in the process.”
In addition to its latest expansion, Wasoko will also be doubling its service radius across all of its existing locations in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, where it has amassed a network of over 200,000 informal retailers and delivered more than 5 million orders to date.
Zambia Airways Launches New Direct Flights from Lusaka to Johannesburg
Zambia Airways has announced the launch of new direct flights from Lusaka to Johannesburg, providing passengers with a convenient and reliable way to travel between the two cities. The service will commence operations on 1st June 2023 and will be operated with a modern and comfortable B737-700 aircraft, offering both Business class and Economy class.
The flight schedule has been designed to suit the needs of both business and leisure travelers, with a convenient early morning departure of 07:00hrs from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka. Zambia Airways is committed to providing its passengers with a safe and comfortable flying experience, with all flights operated in accordance with the highest safety standards. The airline’s experienced and friendly cabin crew will provide exceptional service to passengers on board.
“We are delighted to launch our new direct flights from Lusaka to Johannesburg,” said Abiy Asrat Jiru, CEO of Zambia Airways. “This is an exciting development for our airline and demonstrates our commitment to expanding our network and providing our passengers with more travel options within the region.”
With the launch of this new service, Zambia Airways will connect two of the region’s major cities and provide passengers with a convenient and affordable way to travel. The airline is committed to enhancing tourism, attracting investments, and creating job opportunities as the national carrier of Zambia.
Passengers can now book their flights on the Zambia Airways website or contact their local travel agent for more information.
Minister: Northern Province Embracing Digital Innovation
Northern Province will welcome investment in digital technology in order to unlock the social and economic potential of the region, Northern Province Minister Leonard Mbao has said. The announcement came during a business forum he was officiating in Kasama, organised by MTN Zambia, the country’s leading telecommunications provider. It is hoped such a move will innovate the region’s tourism sector and mining industry.
Mbao told the business forum, “This government is committed to delivering inclusive and equitable development to the citizens. Therefore, digitalisation is a catalyst in the provision of inclusive development and as a government we welcome MTN’s innovation in coming up with digitalised services and products for its clientele. The government is convinced that this kind of digital innovation and forum is the sure way of unlocking the development potential of the province.”
The government’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF), originally introduced in 1995 as a means of encouraging local development in communities across the country, is important in the development of these digital services. The CDF, along with the government’s decentralisation of local policy, can enable local governments to partner with service providers in developing connection and innovation in the region.
The Minister noted the growth of mobile network and digital financial services in Zambia. This was emphasised by MTN’s General Manager North, Elias Chembe, who revealed the company has built 82 4G towers in the region and has plans for the erection of many more, of which 11 will be in the Northern Province.
Chembe said, “In line with the government’s decentralised policy where each constituency is given its share of the national cake, market loans given to our marketers, social cash transfer given to the intended beneficiaries, MTN mobile money services provide the needed support that the government needs to execute its mandate in these areas.”
He stressed MTN’s aim for more regional investment and collaboration with local government, traditional leaders, and Zambian businesses.
Huawei Hosts Zambia’s First Telecom Congress
Zambia’s first ever Telecom Congress took place over the course of two days last week. The event was hosted by Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) company, Huawei, at the Lusaka International Convention Centre (LICC). Huawei, as a global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, has been operating in Zambia for the last 18 years.
The inaugural congress was themed ‘Lighting up ICT for Zambia Digital Life’, and brought together government officials and heads of industry to discuss the present state of the nation’s ICT sector and ideas for its future. Its aim was to explore the various opportunities among government and private corporations to support Zambia in meeting its growing technological demands.
It was at this congress that the Technology and Science Minister, Felix Mutati has announced there has been a 300% growth in mobile money transactions in Zambia in the period from 2021 to 2022. Mutati’s disclosure that K300 billion was transacted via mobile networks last year is the latest in a series of welcome developments concerning progress made in the country’s financial technology sector.
Mutati, in his comments about the recent growth of mobile money transactions, pointed to the work done by new technologies – such as 5G – in increasing ICT usage in Zambia. But he stressed that the country cannot go digital without good connectivity. To this end, the government are planning to erect an additional 300 phone towers in an effort to increase accessible and affordable networks – even in rural areas.
The minister did note, however, that “the old model of erecting towers must be revisited”. He pointed towards technology providers being responsible for providing cheaper options, saying, “we also need appropriate financing to make connectivity faster”.
Huawei’s leading representative at the Congress, its Vice President for Carrier Business Chen Li, reiterated the company’s commitment to aiding Zambia achieve this technologically connected future. Its ability to provide 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G services means there are cost effective solutions to provided connectivity in rural areas. Doing so, according to Li, would mean “enabling more people to connect to the world.”
Minister Announces Plans to Finish Cryptocurrency Tests by June
Science and technology minister, Felix Mutati, has announced the government’s plans to finish the tests necessary to approve cryptocurrency usage in the country by the end of June.
According to the minister, such tests – which started on 19th February – include the central bank and securities regulator simulating using cryptocurrency in the real world.
In an interview with Reuters, Mutati said that the government’s main goal is “to strike a balance between innovation in terms of digital payments […] against citizens’ safety, particularly given that cryptocurrency is very volatile.”
These concerns have been echoed by other African nations and reflected in their approach to the use of cryptocurrency: Nigeria banned banks from handling the currency in February 2021.
However, the Central African Republic swung the other way, becoming the first African state to make bitcoin legal tender and even launching its own cryptocurrency token, the Sango Coin. It also announced a regulatory framework for the country’s use of the digital currency.
Before Zambia can follow suit, work needs to be done to prepare the country’s digital infrastructure, including creating digital identities.
Once the regulatory tests are completed, Mutati hopes that the use of cryptocurrency in the country “will be a driver for financial inclusion and a change maker for Zambia’s economy.”
This announcement is part of a series of developments that signal an exciting economic future for the nation. The science and technology minister noted this, reflecting on the “increased appetite to invest in Zambia.”
5G will enhance economic development-Hichilema
Lusaka Times, 25 November 2022
President Hakainde Hichilema says technology has the capacity to transform all the social and economic sectors of life ranging from education to agriculture. Mr Hichilema says Zambia stands to benefit immensely from the commercial launch of the 5G network, which has the capacity to turn around the country’s economic landscape.
Speaking during the launch of 5G network by MTN Zambia Limited in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Hichilema said the positive and sound life of the economy can only be enhanced through advancements in technology.
The President added that the technological advancements which have been introduced in the country are in line with the government’s ambitious programme to grow the economy.
He explained that the launch of 5G will create jobs and business opportunities in the country especially in the area of small and medium enterprise development. The President further said improved technology is a catalyst to transform the mining sector.
He has since urged the mining sector in Zambia to use 5G to enhance collaboration with experts in South Africa and others to ramp up production. He added that the education sector will also benefit from the commercial launch of 5G in the country.
In the area of agriculture and tourism, President Hichilema said communication will filter quickly to farmers and the tourism sites which are found in far flung areas.
The President said livestock farmers are yet to benefit from the connectivity as information will reach them faster wherever they are across the country.
He said the introduction of 5G is in line with the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) which aims at job creation and improving people’s lives.
And Minister of Technology and Sciences, Felix Mutati, noted that 5G will improve mobile money services which will transform the lives of the people, especially entrepreneurs.
He said the progressive policies which the new administration has brought in the telecommunication industry will change the economic development of the country.
Mr Mutati added that the digital transformation will address the business challenges the country has been faced with for some time.
“Indeed, Zambia is entering and breaking new grounds in terms of connectivity following this 5G launch we are witnessing today,” he said.
Meanwhile, MTN Chief Executive Officer Bart Hofker stated that 5G will optimise the speed of connectivity which will in turn develop economic and social activities in the country.
Mr Hofker said MTN is the champion in the digital world and will continue to connect countries in Africa.
He added that Zambia is the third country to be connected to 5G after South Africa and Nigeria.
He said huge sums of money have been invested in expanding connectivity across Africa in order to better people’s livelihoods.
“Let us embrace 5G as it is here to transform the social economic journey the government has embarked upon to better the lives of the people,” he said.
Ethereum Founder Energised by Zambian FinTech Take-Off
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, is backing a bright future for cryptocurrencies and FinTech in Zambia. Having engaged with President Hichilema via virtual meetings, the founder of the world’s second largest cryptocurrency has expressed his support for Zambia’s digital transformation.
Speaking after a visit to the country in 2019 Buterin appeared excited by the future prospects for the country. “I was impressed by everyone’s willingness to go and do big things,” he said.
Start-up founders from Zambia and around the world have been consulting with the government since February. The aim is to improve the national regulatory and business environment, in conjunction with the private sector, to attract more tech firms and capital.
Mwiya Musokotwane, Founder and CEO of Thebe Investment Management and the son of Zambia’s Finance Minister, is one of those driving the project and insists policy must “live up to people’s expectations” or risk driving away investment.
It is not just Buterin who is excited by the Zambian market. Nigerian payments firm Flutterwave Inc., valued at more than $3 billion dollars, have indicated its interest in Zambia as a potential regional tech hub. Zimbabwean tech investor Perseus Mlambo got in at the ground floor of the Zambian market, launching the payments platform Zazu Africa Limited in 2015. Zazu seeks to improve transparency and accessibility across online financial services through its platform.
At present 75% of Zambia’s export earnings come from copper sales. Although the mining industry is a crucial driver for Zambia’s present economic growth, attempts are being made to dramatically diversify the country’s economy.
One of President Hichilema’s first acts in office was to set up the newly minted Ministry of Technology and Science. The creation of this ministry is intended to signal the future importance of the sector and coordinate a favourable policy environment. The ministry’s founding came just before the launch of the National Skills Youth Empowerment Programme. Digital competence is viewed as a vital part of upskilling the country’s youth to best prepare them to engage in the global economy and in Zambia’s economic future.
This year also saw the launch of the government’s National Digital Transformation Strategy. Big Four accounting firm PwC praised the strategy and concurrent investment as a “key enabler” for economic transformation and job creation.
On Wednesday, speaking at the Innovation Africa Summit, hosted in Lusaka, President Hichilema emphasised the importance of technology to education. In a subsequent tweet the president emphasised: “As we invest in education, we must leverage on technology to make our jobs easier and help us achieve more with our resources. Resources can be stretched with the use of technology.”
The Zambian government is heeding Mlambo’s warning not to “miss the proverbial boat” by under-investing in the FinTech boom. Mlambo is encouraging the Zambian government to use the power of technology to aid its development plans. He has emphasised that “tech uplifts multitudes of people and the barrier to entry is very, very low.”
Indeed, the growth of digital financial services has been revelatory in many sub-Saharan African countries. Person to Person (P2P) digital payments systems facilitate the integration of those without formal bank accounts but with internet access. Despite turbulence in the cryptocurrency markets this year, small retail transfers of $1000 or less have actually increased on the continent. This is indicative of the high grassroots level uptake of the technology in Africa.
Rather than cryptocurrencies being bought as speculative investments - as is most common in Europe and North America - or funds being dominated by large firms, Africa’s crypto boom is being driven by a high proportion of grassroots adoption. The technology facilitates quicker and cheaper transfers than traditional systems. Further, while not a prime driver in Zambia owing to the kwacha’s strong international performance, crypto assets can provide an independent means of access to foreign exchanges and can serve as a hedge against currency volatility. In Zimbabwe, for example, where inflation is at 90%, cryptocurrencies have proved particularly useful for buying everyday goods.
This year Zambia held its first-ever Internal ICT Expo and Fintech Festival. With the African cryptocurrency market having grown 1200% between 2020 and 2021, and Zambia’s digital finance market set to reach 7.25 million users by 2027, this is an important time to unmask the power of technology.
Zambia’s Central Bank announced this year that the possibility of a Central Bank Digital Currency is being explored. With this and more in the future, it is no surprise that Ethereum sees a bright future for digital finance in Zambia.
Image: Vitalik Buterin via Chet Strange/Bloomberg
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Yango: The Taxi Company Hailing Growth in Zambia
Yango, the ride-hailing service initially launched in Israel, has grown exponentially since its founding in December 2018. Operating in 600 cities across 17 countries, Yango launched in Zambia in early 2022.
Zambia is the fifth country in Africa, and the first in southern Africa, that Yango has launched in, with the company already present in Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal. Upon its launch, General Manager for Yango in Africa Adeniyi Adebayo noted Zambia’s status as a “growing, actively developing economy”. With a 4% annual growth rate, and over half the country’s population under the age of 18, there is the potential for Yango’s market, and profits, to grow enormously in Zambia in the years to come.
In addition to offering a taxi service, Yango offers parcel delivery, rapid grocery delivery, and car-sharing options. What sets them aside from global competitors such as Uber is their collaborative approach, which includes partnering with local taxi companies.
By using AI-based navigation and request services, journey times are reduced for passengers; drivers waste less time between rides; and overall costs fall. Such technology can help the growth of small and medium -sized business throughout the city. Less time is wasted on a worker’s commute; taxi companies can schedule more business per day; and local food and parcel services see their products delivered more efficiently. The number of internet users in Zambia grew by 5.4% across 2021, and the government is attempting to accelerate this further through the National Digital Transformation Strategy. As online demand increases in Zambia, such efficiency driving technology may give Yango a crucial advantage over regional competitors.
Speaking to Business Insider, Adebayo explained how their service aims to co-operate with their partner firms holistically: “to replace their old-fashioned ways of doing business, which sometimes is at best Excel spreadsheets, we offer digital accounting and fleet management technology to improve the transparency and efficiency of operations.” This is also why the company offers more than 50 driver support specialists per city.
Government officials have welcomed the competition and innovation that Yango have brought to the market, with Minister of Transport Frank Tayali stating, “we see that its presence on the market benefits the creation of new job opportunities with local transport operators which partner with Yango.” Echoing the sentiments of Adebayo, the Minister spoke of the opportunities Yango provides to small and medium-sized businesses to grow and modernise.
The Minster concluded by assuring businesses that “the new regulation will not limit these opportunities.” Indeed, through the newly founded Public-Private Development Forum, the government is actively seeking to foster public-private cooperation in order to overcome critical sector specific constraints. Further, the administration is actively seeking to encourage foreign investment by hosting business summits and cutting taxes in an effort to stimulate the Zambian economy and reach middle-income status by 2030.
Yango has experienced enormous growth in Africa since its introduction to Côte D’Ivoire in 2018. The company has increased the number of riders in Africa seven times annually. The African market now represents 60% of the company’s Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). GMV is a measure of the total value of sales. Such a large share is indicative of the sheer demand for affordable, digitised ride-hailing technologies on the continent.
The company have introduced a number of additional features since they first launched in order to make the service more convenient and attractive to its customers. For example, ride-sharing has been introduced to allow for reduced prices with minimal additional time added to journeys. Passengers are also able to utilise safety features to let select contacts know they’re getting home safe or track their progress along a journey. In Cameroon, Yango have introduced driver safety figures including using AI algorithms to warn drivers about particularly dangerous areas of road, manoeuvres, and possible incidents on their journey.
Yango’s approach includes a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility. For example, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Yango provided free rides for doctors to visit patients and for people traveling to vaccination centers. The company has also recently spoken about its plans to support education with a focus on IT in the region.
Thinking of investing in Zambia’s technology industry? Sign up for our investor briefing or get in touch at info@zambiaisback.com
Ukheshe & Digital PayGo Partner to Drive Zambian Business Growth
IT News Africa, September 27, 2022
Ukheshe’s SME in-a-box solution is making tangible changes to the lives of millions in Zambia through a partnership with Digital PayGo, improving financial inclusion and enhancing business dealings for entrepreneurs.
Digital PayGo, a local Zambian fintech driving a mobile-first approach, enhancing the digital payment space for SMEs, is the first partner to utilise Ukheshe’s SME in-a-box solution to its fullest extent and provides a range of virtual financial services to its customers.
“We’re so proud to be the technology partner enabling Digital PayGo in their partnership with Zambian bank Zanaco and Mastercard to implement this solution,” says Mark Dankworth, President of Business Development in Africa at Ukheshe.
“In line with Mastercard’s vision of enabling 50 million SMEs by 2025, the relationship between Ukheshe and Digital PayGo was a natural fit, given our shared values of driving financial inclusion with relevant solutions that address the needs of individuals and businesses. To be able to make a difference such as this in the Zambian Merchant payments ecosystem is truly exciting.”
The SME in-a-box suite of services includes acceptance of virtual and physical card payments; tap-on-phone (SoftPOS) and QR payments; digital onboarding; instant access to funds for money transfers and payments; virtual card issuing – all powered by Ukheshe’s award-winning Eclipse API.
But the benefits go far beyond just providing this functionality to consumers and businesses – useful as it may be, says Charity Mwanza, CEO – Digital PayGo.
“SME in a box – Lipila Na PayGo will cater for the pressing need of SMEs which is to make and receive payments seamlessly, while keeping a track record of all transactions thus making reporting and access to finance a possibility. We believe the solution will not only improve access to finance and financial inclusion but will increase trust in digital financial solutions as well.”
The convenience and safety of mobile and digital financial solutions, especially through Ukheshe, eases the way SMEs conduct business, therefore, contributing to the eventual push for a cashless society in Zambia.
For Ukheshe, this is another big step in the direction of its ultimate goal – being a global embedded finance enabler with the focus of providing innovative digital payment solutions to improve and address financial inclusion within emerging markets.
“Ukheshe is focused on democratising digital financial services through the accessibility of disparate technologies. Our technology has already improved financial access in locations across the continent, and we believe this partnership will do the same in Zambia and other emerging markets – changing millions of lives for the better,” says Dankworth.
Southern Africa Swiss Business Hub Eyes Zambia
The Independent Observer, July 27, 2022
The Southern Africa Swiss Business Hub, the representative of the Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and based at the Embassy of Switzerland in Pretoria, says it is considering investing in Zambia due to the country’s economic turnaround and a conducive business environment.
Head of Swiss Business Hub-Southern Africa Stephanie Labite, says the hub wants to spread its business tentacles across Southern and East Africa, supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and that Zambia is up the pecking order on its plans.
Ms. Labite said this in Pretoria during a business meeting with Zambia Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Inonge Mwenya.
She said the Southern Africa Swiss Business Hub has a specific mandate that focuses mainly on business and trade developments with key interest in infrastructure and technology, a domain of opportunities it is looking for in Zambia.
She says this will promote Zambia to Swiss business investments in South Africa as the hub has access to in-depth market knowledge through a local network of experts in all sectors of the economy and that this is the reason Zambia is its next preferred destination for investment.
She says the hub wants to collaborate with different stakeholders in Zambia such as the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the Chambers of Commerce among others, as its motive is to engage Government while working with the private sector in exploring business opportunities and forging partnerships.
Meanwhile, Zambia Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Inonge Mwenya says she is happy that the Hub is looking forward to partnering with Zambia and has pledged the Mission’s facilitation in actualising the interest expressed by the Hub in this regard.
SpaceX Starlink Team Meets With Zambia Officials for Satellite Internet Services
Tesla Rati, September 19, 2023
SpaceX is talking with Zambia officials, offering Starlink’s internet services to the country.
Recently, Jito Kayumba—the Special Assistant to the Republic of Zambia—tweeted about SpaceX and the country’s officials meeting about Starlink services.
“Our President’s engagement with the team from SpaceX and their Starlink initiative will escalate Zambia’s position in the digital economy and enable universal access to internet and other technologies. Grateful for this initiative from visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk,” tweeted Kayumba.
Elon Musk responded to Kayumba’s tweet, expressing his excitement for SpaceX’s Starlink service’s availability to the people of Zambia.
INTERNET IN ZAMBIA
According to DataReportal, Zambia had 5.47 million internet users as of January 2022. The number of internet users in the country increased by 5.4% between 2021 and 2022. At the beginning of the year, 71.5% of the population remained offline.
Zambia’s media mobile internet connection speed through cellular networks was 12.08 Mbps, up by 3.94 Mbps compared to late 2021. The country’s median fixed internet connection speed was 4.65 Mbps, down by 2.14 Mbps versus late last year. With such internet speeds, Starlink’s high-speed connection will definitely be appreciated in Zambia.
PROSPERITY THROUGH THE INTERNET
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools shifted from face-to-face classes to online learning platforms for distance learning. In 2020, the Save the Children of Zambia organization reported that only 0.8% of children from poor households had access to the internet to attend online classes.
Online classes were introduced across schools in Zambia in 2012-2013. When the pandemic hit, the country still lacked the necessary infrastructure to support distance learning.
Internet Society believes expanding internet access throughout Zambia would make education more affordable along with other benefits. It argues that access to the internet would give the people of Zambia access to health and shopping services, increase their productivity, and bring about technological development.
Starlink is now available on all seven continents, even Antarctica—aka “The Ice.” SpaceX recently installed a Starlink terminal at the McMurdo Station on the south tip of Ross Island in Antarctica.
Black Professionals in Tech Network launches in Zambia
Mwebantu, July 26, 2022
The Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN), the largest network of Black tech professionals in North America, with over 60,000 Black tech professional members globally, has officially launched in Zambia.
BPTN which launched on Friday 22nd July at Bongo Hive Technology Hub Lusaka provides a dynamic platform (obsidi.com) for global tech companies to build relationships with Black tech professionals across North America and in other global cities, enable large employers to hire talent and be seen as “An Employer of Choice” for Black tech professionals.
Mr. Lekan Olawoye, Founder of BPTN said he is confident that the launch of BPTN in Zambia will create an enabling platform for tech professionals to soar in their careers through provision of mentorship, master classes and resources as well as tap into BPTN network of career growers who are constantly seeking to hire Black tech talent, using this platform. Renowned company partners include Microsoft, IBM, LinkedIn, Deloitte, PwC, HPE, Intuit, Yelp, RBC bank, and many more global companies.
“BPTN is here to stay and will be investing $500,000USD yearly into the Zambian economy through hiring 17+ Fulltime staff, renting an office space in Lusaka and purchasing of equipment. Our Zambian office will be our Software engineering office, and it will help BPTN Inc build and maintain its global platform (obsidi.com). “He added.
In addition, BPTN offers support to partner companies through training sessions rich with relevant and culturally accurate content to enable the company to understand the Black tech professional experience, thereby supporting them to transform their systems and structure to better attract and retain talent.
We are a full-service firm that is a go-to partner for all things Black talent. This is what makes us a leading company, our ability to be the intimate partner for leading companies to solve their strategic hiring and retention needs.
ICT Key In Digital Empowerment – Habeenzu
ZNBC, July 22, 2022
By Etambuyu Katota-Technology and Science Permanent Secretary BRILLIANT HABEENZU says serious investment in Information and Communication Technology is key in facilitating digital empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for Zambians.
Dr. HABEENZU says government strategic development key areas such as economic diversification, transformation and job creation will be unlocked through digital transformation.
Speaking during the Launch of the Asikana Network Training for Women in Technology, Dr. HABEENZU said mobile companies are already providing means for young people to earn a living as some of them are agents.
And, MTN Zambia Chief Executive Officer BART HOFKER said the company is committed to supporting government initiatives meant to increase the participation of women and girls in science and technology.
Meanwhile, Huawei Managing Director BETTE CHEN in a speech read for her by Huawei Account Manager Zambia LAURA LI said Zambia is making significant strides in closing digital gaps through investment in technology development and digital infrastructure.
Image via NASA
Ethereum Founder Is Backing Zambia’s Bid to be Africa’s Tech Hub
Bloomberg, 27 March, 2022
Zambia may be better known for mining copper than crypto, but a group of young entrepreneurs are looking to reinvent the country as an African technology hub -- with support from Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin.
Startup founders from the southern African country and abroad are talking to the government about creating the regulatory and business environment that would attract more tech firms and capital. The group is in the process of organizing a conference in Lusaka, the capital, in May to draft detailed policy proposals that they believe will see Zambia succeed where previous African tech hubs have stuttered.
“Ultimately it comes down to being welcoming,” said Mwiya Musokotwane, an early champion of the project and the son of Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane. “If the policy doesn’t really live up to people’s expectations, noone’s going to be there.”
Buterin, who helped create the world’s second largest cryptocurrency in 2013, expressed his support in a virtual meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema earlier this year. That followed a 2019 visit to the country as a guest of Mwiya, who wanted him to view a new charter city outside Lusaka that is also positioning itself to attract businesses.
“I was impressed by everyone I met’s willingness to go and do big things,” the crypto pioneer said in an interview.
The talks are a further sign of Africa’s recent and burgeoning role as a hotbed for startups, particularly in the fintech and e-commerce sectors. Businesses providing financial services to the continent’s millions of unbanked yet online people are attracting the attention of foreign investors particularly from the U.S., and African firms raised a record $5 billion in 2021.
Read More: U.S. Investors Revisit Africa, Helping Startups Cap Record Year
Companies including Nigerian payments firm Flutterwave Inc., whose latest $250 million fund-raising round valued it at more than $3 billion, are also interested in growing a presence in Zambia, Mwiya Musokotwane said.
Employment Drive
For Hichilema, attracting tech firms could be a means of delivering on one of his key election pledges -- boosting employment. More than one in four Zambians under the age of 24 have no income, according to data from the International Labour Organization, and the ratio has been worsening since 2013. The President’s commitment to resolving the issue played a major role in his August election victory after five previous failed attempts.
He has since created the Ministry of Technology and Science as part of a drive to support the sector and help ease dependence on copper, which accounts for 75% of export earnings. The government is eager to consult with entrepreneurs on attractive policies for the tech industry, including tax incentives, according to Jito Kayumba, Hichilema’s special assistant for economic and development affairs and a former director at Kukula Capital, which invests in young Zambian companies.
“We want to have a much more open-minded approach,” Kayumba said in an interview from Lusaka. “You can’t milk a cow that isn’t fully developed.”
Early Mover
Perseus Mlambo, originally from neighboring Zimbabwe, was one of the early movers. He started payments platform Zazu Africa Ltd. in Zambia five years ago, a firm that now accounts for half of Mastercard Inc. transactions in the country.
He went on to raise $3 million last year from investors led by U.S. fund Tiger Global LP for a new venture called Union54, a firm that allows companies to issue their own debit cards without going through a bank. Tiger, the investor firm of billionaire Chase Coleman, has also backed Flutterwave and been involved in talks on the Zambia hub.
“Copper is old and boring,” Mlambo said in an interview from Belluno, north of Venice, Italy. Governments “risk missing the proverbial boat by over-investing in extractives and under-investing in software. Tech uplifts multitudes of people and the barrier to entry is very, very low.”
But ultimately the success of the project will come down to legislation.
Zambia must improve the ease and cost of getting work permits, according to Malawi-born Wiza Jalakasi, vice-president of global developer relations at Chipper Cash, another Africa-focused fintech startup. And Mlambo said he’s been waiting for a residence permit to be approved since September.
Still, the nation that’s changed the ruling party three times in thirty years already has progressive financial services regulation, making it attractive, Jalakasi said.
“It’s not the biggest market in the region, but you can test things very easily,” he said. “That’s only going to get better with time as these policies are implemented.”
Image via Chet Strange/Bloomberg