Zambia and Burundi are set to link through an underwater fibre optic cable. This follows an agreement sealed at the Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka.
The project will involve submersing the cable in Lake Tanganyika, so as to connect Zambia’s Northern Province to Makamba, Burundi’s southernmost region. A private firm has been contracted for the job, although its name has not yet been disclosed.
Zambia will link Burundi as the ninth country by fibre optic cable, joining Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
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New Collaboration Between Zambia and Burundi
Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati, emphasized the significance of this connection. He said, “The connection of the two countries (Burundi and Zambia) will make Zambia a regional hub for information and communication technology.”
Burundi’s Minister of Communication, Technology, and Information, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, highlighted the collaborative potential. He added, “The signing of the MoU paved the way for more collaborations between Zambia and Burundi.”
At the Digital Government Africa Summit, Mutati also met with ICT ministers from Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania. They discussed various strategies to boost regional connectivity and digital infrastructure.
Mutati also held discussions with Nigerian Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, focusing on Zambia’s fintech sector development.
He noted the impressive growth of Nigeria’s fintech industry and stated, “Zambia has a lot to learn from Nigeria in that area.”
Nigeria currently has 200 fintech businesses working on financial inclusion. These firms raised over $1 billion in investment between January and September 2024.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in Africa’s digital transformation, paving the way for stronger regional cooperation.