Sinazongwe Town Council has received high-speed internet, communication systems, computers, and solar equipment from the e-Government Division of SMART Zambia Institute. The deployment is part of the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN) programme, which aims to connect Zambia's 116 councils and government institutions to a secure digital backbone.
The handover marks a tangible step in bringing modern digital services to a rural council — extending the same kind of connectivity and computing infrastructure that has been available in central government offices to local authorities that have historically operated without reliable digital systems.
What Was Delivered
The package handed over to Sinazongwe Town Council covers the full set of systems a modern local government office needs to deliver services digitally:
High-speed internet. Reliable broadband capable of supporting day-to-day government operations, citizen-facing services, and inter-agency communication.
Communication systems. Tools for internal and external coordination, including voice and messaging infrastructure that connects the council to central government and to the citizens it serves.
Computers. End-user devices for council staff to operate the new digital services, manage records, and process transactions.
Solar equipment. Off-grid power to keep the systems running — a practical and necessary addition in areas where grid electricity is unreliable or unavailable. The solar component signals that the Government Wide Area Network programme is being designed with rural realities in mind.
Why This Matters: The GWAN Programme
The Government Wide Area Network is the digital spine of Zambia's public service. By connecting all 116 councils and the wider network of government institutions to a single, secure backbone, GWAN makes it possible to deliver services consistently across the country — from large urban municipalities to smaller, more remote councils like Sinazongwe.
The programme does more than install equipment. It is what enables digital identity systems, electronic records, online service delivery, and inter-agency data sharing to work in practice. Without it, e-government remains a concept in the capital rather than a service that reaches citizens.
From Infrastructure to Capability
Connectivity and equipment are necessary — but they are not sufficient. The councils being connected also need staff who can use these systems confidently: to operate the new platforms, support citizens who are accessing services for the first time, and keep the systems secure and effective over time.
That is the work Digital Literacy Consultants is built for. We support the human side of Zambia's digital transformation — training the public servants, teachers, and community members who turn infrastructure into outcomes. If you are part of an institution rolling out new digital systems and need support building the skills to use them, we would love to help.