Zambia has dropped the ZEMA licensing requirement for mobile tower construction to boost nationwide connectivity.
The Ministry of Technology and Science announced the change after the Global System for Mobile Association of Zambia (GSMAZ) end-of-year Reflections and Leadership Transition ceremony on Friday. At the event, MTN CEO Abbad Reda was appointed as the new chairperson of GSMAZ, succeeding Zamtel CEO Jason Mwanza.
ZEMA enforces adherence to the country’s environmental standards for all infrastructure developments, including new towers and electronic waste management. Scrapping the licence requirement means the government has eliminated one of the major barriers to extending mobile networks.
This initiative builds on discussions held at last month’s Digital Economy Roundtable, which brought together stakeholders from the public sector, private enterprises, and development partners to review progress and foster collaboration in advancing Zambia’s digital inclusion agenda.
Nkula Mwanza, Director for Digital Communications at the Ministry, emphasised the telecom sector’s key role as the backbone for digital services, e-government, fintech, innovation hubs, cybersecurity, and the digital skills economy—guided by GSMAZ.
“Government recognises that our national objectives—universal service access, digital inclusion, and improved public service delivery—rely heavily on strong partnerships with industry. GSMAZ has consistently provided exemplary leadership in this regard,” Mwanza said.
He said the association’s engagement and feedback continue to shape a telecom landscape aligned with Zambia’s long-term digital goals.
Mwanza also congratulated Reda, noting that he is assuming the post at a critical time, when Zambia is intensifying its digital transformation, expanding broadband, rolling out digital identity, and building cybersecurity and digital skills capacity.
He further urged Reda to address the nagging network performance problems, noting that last month the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority issued a 21-day ultimatum demanding immediate improvements in service quality and resilience from telecoms and tower operators.
“Together, we can build a digitally empowered Zambia where innovation thrives, and technology drives development. We urge you to address service quality challenges,” he concluded.
