Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa says the launch of the Zambia National Spatial Data Infrastructure (ZNSDI) policy and Zambia Portal will improve the delivery of government services.
Mr Kangwa described the launch of the ZNSDI has a milestone in Zambia’s strategic journey towards digital transformation.
He stressed that the policy places the citizenry at the core of government endeavors.
Mr Kangwa said this in a speech read for him by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Administration Oliver Kalabo.
Mr Kangwa highlighted that the policy will seek among other things, to eliminate duplication of government work.
He bemoaned that for too long geospatial data has remained fragmented within government.
Mr Kangwa further pointed out that geospatial data is inaccessible and underutilised.
He said the fragmentation has impeded on government’s capacity, to make timely and informed decisions.
Mr Kangwa stressed that this has cost government valuable resources and affected the quality of services delivered to the people.
“For too long, geospatial data within our government has remained fragmented siloed, duplicated, inaccessible, and underutilised. This fragmentation has impeded our capacity to make timely, informed decisions, costing us valuable resources and, most critically, affecting the quality of services provided to our people.”
He indicated that as a country, Zambia lacked a single, authoritative source of geospatial information to guide the country in an event of a crisis.
“In moments of crisis such as disasters, land disputes, or investment planning, we have lacked a single, authoritative source of geospatial information to guide our actions.”
The Secretary to the Cabinet has since called for the speedy implementation of the NSDI policy.
And speaking earlier, SMART Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama said the portal will provide a single source of data.
Mr Chinyama explained that having a single source of information is critical in enhancing decision making.
He emphasised that the portal will contribute to the efficient delivery of government services.
Meanwhile, European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA Team Leader Lana Zutelija says the launch of the portal is as a result of years of efforts and collaboration among government and private institutions.
Ms Zutelija thanked the Zambian cabinet for implementing the policy.
Why are all speeches read for others?
In the computer age, Perhaps we should put the actual source of the speech on video? Better than someone reading someone else’s speech.