JACK ZIMBA
TANZANIA’S ambitious digital health initiative, Kadi ya Matibabu, has earned global acclaim after being recognised at the WSIS+20 Forum in Geneva – a milestone that shines light on the growing role of technology in transforming public health systems across Africa.
The innovative health card links citizens’ national ID numbers to their electronic medical records, enabling seamless access to patient information at any public health facility across Zanzibar.
With most of the island’s population already enrolled, healthcare workers are now able to retrieve medical histories within seconds – improving treatment consistency, eliminating record duplication, and drastically enhancing response times.
Tanzania’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, said the recognition proves that meaningful digital reform is possible when it is citizen-centred, well-structured, and underpinned by a robust national identity system.
“The achievement also highlights the broader digital transformation underway in Tanzania, where health, finance, and public service systems are being interconnected through a unified ICT backbone,” he said.
The country’s coordinated approach – enforced through cybersecurity protocols, ICT training for public staff, and a streamlined government platform – sets a regional benchmark for integrated digital governance.
While Tanzania’s model gains international attention, Zambia is also making commendable progress.
Zambia piloted the SmartCare Por in 2005, which is a data system for patients. The system has since been deployed to 406 health facilities across Lusaka, Copperbelt, and Southern provinces, with a target to reach 1,199 health facilities by end of 2025.
The platform leverages biometric identity tools and mobile data collection to strengthen health service delivery, especially in rural areas.
In districts like Kazungula, community health workers are now using mobile devices to monitor immunisations, track maternal health visits, and coordinate home-based care. Information that once took days to transmit now reaches central systems in near real-time.
Despite differences in pace and structure, both Zambia and Tanzania face similar hurdles: limited infrastructure in remote regions, evolving data privacy laws, and the need to build public trust in digital systems.
In Zanzibar, for example, some elderly patients remain wary of how their data is stored and accessed.
In Zambia, legal frameworks around data protection are still catching up with the rapid deployment of digital tools in the health sector.
Yet both countries are clearly moving in the same direction – toward smarter, more connected public service delivery.
“While Tanzania’s recognition at a global forum sets an aspirational tone, Zambia’s methodical system-building also deserves attention. The true measure of success, observers say, lies not in international awards but in whether ordinary citizens can access better services – efficiently, securely, and without delay,” Mr Silaa.
As both nations continue to invest in digital health and governance platforms, the story is not one of competition, but of convergence. Whether through high-profile showcases or quiet local innovation, the future of public service in Africa is increasingly digital – and people-centered.
