Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, says Zambia is actively leveraging her position as a Co-Facilitator in the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) to ensure that the voices and needs of countries in the Global South, including Africa, are adequately represented.
The Hon. Minister said this during a Summit of the Future side event on “Shaping the Future of Learning now” for the Ministerial Dialogue: Building the Ecosystem and the schools of the Future co-hosted by Zambia, Finland and UNICEF at the UN Headquarters in New York.
He said Zambia is advocating for inclusive policies that address digital divides, promoting capacity-building initiatives, and fostering partnerships that amplify the perspectives of underrepresented regions in global digital governance discussions.
“Our goal is to create a more equitable and inclusive digital future for all,” he said. “Zambia is also planning for a digital summit to be held in early October in Lusaka with focus on Africa”
On steps Zambia is taking to bridge the digital divide, Hon. Haimbe said the country was prioritizing the development of essential infrastructure, which includes expanding access to electricity and internet connectivity in rural and underserved areas.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Minister appealed to the international community to support the candidacy of Dr Samuel Munzele Maimbo for President of the African Development Bank. Zambia believes that Dr. Maimbo will contribute towards advancing the development development of the global south, particularly Africa’s digital transformation through, among others, investments in digital skills, digital infrastructure and service platforms, and entrepreneurships.
Dr Maimbo will be the sole Southern African Development Community (SADC) candidate to contest the presidency of AfDB during the elections, which will be held in May 2025.
This is contained in a statement issued by Namatama Njekw First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.
