The Ministry of Science and Technology Permanent Secretary, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, has raised concerns about the significant impact of load-shedding on the Information and communication technology – ICT sector in Zambia which has also caused a decline in employment opportunities.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Dr. Habeenzu emphasized the sector’s heavy reliance on hydropower and the adverse effects of load-shedding.
he disclosed that the Mobile Network Operators – MNOs are now spending over K46 million on fuel compared to only K10 million before the onset of load-shedding.
Citing the ZICTA Mid-year report, Dr. Habeenzu highlighted that although the employment for ICT licensed operators showed a modest increase from 2,376 in 2023 to 2,402 in 2024, the growth rate of 1.1 percent is indicative of the challenges faced by the sector.
He mentioned that companies are now spending over K46 million per month on fuel, a significant increase from the initial K10 million per month, underlining the financial strain caused by the energy crisis.
Dr. Habeenzu further explained that, “The ICT sector is dependent on the energy sector. If we are unable to power this, it will significantly affect services like mobile money transactions, which in turn impacts formal and informal employment. Load-shedding has led to major disruptions, causing a setback in the sector’s growth.”
Asked about the intervention of the Government towards promoting renewable to ICT operators he stated “the MNOs know already that they need to invest in lithium batteries and solar energy to have the sites running and provide equitable services to the general public.”
