LUSAKA, June 16th 2026 – Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Patrick Kangwa has directed government ministries to adopt open-source solutions in line with government’s digital transformation guidelines.
Mr Kangwa, represented by the deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Administration, Dr Oliver Kalabo, said this during the launch of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Policy and unveiling of the NSDI Portal in Lusaka today.
He emphasizing that the portal is build using open-source software and addresses the issue of vendor lock-in adding that unlike proprietary or closed-source software, which can only be modified by its original creators and often requires costly licensing fees.
The Secretary to the Cabinet explained that open-source solutions offer government institutions lower costs, better security and reliability, freedom from vendor lock-in, and the ability to customise software according to specific requirements.
He mentioned that the approach promotes transparency, collaboration, and innovation, enabling government agencies to share tools and build on existing solutions rather than starting from scratch.
Mr Kangwa stressed that the launch marks a historic milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey.
He emphasized that the NSDI Policy and portal ends the era of fragmented, duplicated, and inaccessible geospatial data, which for years hindered timely decision-making and service delivery.
And National Coordinator for the SMART Zambia Institute, Mr. Percy Chinyama, described the NSDI as a strategic national asset that lays the foundation for sustainable resource management and inclusive prosperity.
”True leadership is about transforming challenges into opportunities. Zambia has chosen to pursue a bold digital transformation agenda aimed at creating a unified, open, and interoperable geospatial ecosystem,” Mr. Chinyama said.
Meanwhile, Government Chief Technology Officer (GCTO) Ms. Kasali Musenge highlighted practical benefits of the NSDI, including improved disaster response, better urban planning, real-time agricultural advice for farmers, and enhanced transparency for citizens.
”The NSDI is a critical national asset that supports sustainable development and improves the well-being of citizens through more informed policies and services,” Ms. Musenge said.
Speaking at the same event, Team leader for the European Union Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, Lana Zutelija, said ZNSDI will benefit Zambia as it will provide reliable, and credible data to local and international investors that will help them to make decisions on areas of investment including agriculture, technology, water, among others.
The Policy aligns with the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) and the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework.
The ZNSDI Geoportal/ Map Viewer is available on http://ZNSDI.szi.gov.zm
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