Smart Zambia, Smart Nation? Huawei’s Role in Shaping Zambia’s Digital Landscape

Hangwei Li

Over the past decade, Zambia has pursued an ambitious digital transformation agenda in
collaboration with global technology firms. Among them, China’s tech giant Huawei, is one of
the most prominent actors. From building telecommunication towers in rural provinces to
establishing a national data center and e-government platforms, Huawei’s footprint in Zambia’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector is extensive.

This article focuses on Huawei’s involvement in shaping Zambia’s digital landscape, with
particular emphasis on the Smart Zambia project, in which Huawei served as a contractor. The
analysis is based on multiple fieldwork visits to Lusaka conducted in 2015, 2017, 2019, and
2023, as well as both formal and informal interviews with relevant stakeholders—including
senior government officials, Chinese diplomats, Huawei managers and PR officers, Zambian ICT experts, and journalists.