Zambia Digital Services and Cybersecurity Awareness Training

Zambia's SMART Zambia Institute is expanding access to Zambia's digital services and cybersecurity awareness training in Mushindamo. Plans are already underway to reach all districts in North-Western Province.

Led by the North-Western Provincial ICT Unit, the campaign focuses on helping residents access government digital services through the Government Service Bus (GSB). It also educates public employees on protecting sensitive information and using government systems responsibly.

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Speaking at a sensitisation meeting in Mushindamo, Provincial ICT Officer Mathew Mufunte said the government's digitalisation programme aims to improve public service delivery, increase efficiency, and promote transparency and accountability.

The initiative also seeks to ensure that people understand how to use the platforms being introduced as government services move online.

Expanding Zambia Digital Services Awareness

A key part of the sensitisation campaign is encouraging citizens and public service workers to become familiar with ZamPortal and the authentication services required to use government e-services.

ZamPortal serves as a central directory for Zambia's online public services, bringing together services provided by different government institutions. Users can find relevant services, submit applications and make online payments where required.

Access to these services requires ZamPass, Zambia's National Digital Identity and Authentication Service. This system lets users verify their identities when signing into government platforms.

Mufunte emphasised the importance of having a ZamPass account to access digital government services. Familiarity with the registration and authentication process can help residents use available services without repeatedly visiting government offices.

Improving Accessibility and Security

For communities outside major urban centres, awareness of these platforms is particularly important. Digital services can reduce travel, paperwork and waiting times, but citizens must first know where to find them and how to use them.

The campaign is also addressing the security responsibilities that come with increased use of digital government systems.

As public institutions handle more information electronically, protecting confidential records becomes an important part of service delivery. Government employees need to understand how to access, store, and share information, particularly when handling official policies and sensitive public records.

Mufunte urged public service workers to follow established procedures, maintain professionalism and protect confidential government information. He also stressed that access to sensitive data should be limited to authorised personnel.

These practices help reduce the risk of unauthorised access, information exposure, and misuse of government systems.

Commitment to Digital Inclusion

The initiative therefore combines digital inclusion with responsible technology use. Encouraging more people to access online services must go hand in hand with efforts to ensure those services and the information they handle remain secure.

SMART Zambia plans to extend the sensitisation campaign to all districts in North-Western Province.

The wider rollout will allow more communities to learn about the Government Service Bus, available online services and cybersecurity practices.

The institute has previously conducted similar sensitisation activities in the province. In October 2024, its North-Western team held GSB workshops in Manyinga and Kabompo, introducing teachers and members of the public to online applications, digital payments and access to government documents.

The latest campaign builds on those efforts to improve awareness and encourage wider use of government digital platforms.

Zambia's digital government ambitions depend on more than building online platforms. Public workers and citizens must know how to access them, while government institutions must maintain reliable systems and protect the information they hold.

Extending the campaign across North-Western Province could help close part of the awareness gap, particularly among communities with limited exposure to digital public services.

The next measure of progress will be how many residents and public workers register, access available services, and adopt safer digital practices.

For Zambia, the broader objective is to make digital government services more accessible while ensuring that informed users and stronger cybersecurity awareness support the transition to online service delivery.