Common Cause Zambia - CCZ

Official statement on why RightsCon won’t take place in Zambia

Following our April 29 announcement, we believe it's important to be transparent about the context that led to the decision. We want to explain, where we can, why this was made on such short notice, only days before we were set to host RightsCon.

Read: https://rightscon.org/rc26-statement/

Zambia continues to use outdated, typewritten and laminated IDs making it one of the few countries in the SADC region without a fully digital and secure identification system. This raises serious concerns about identity security, fraud, and our country’s international reputation.

Recent concerns from the United States about the reliability of Zambian IDs highlight the urgency of reform. Without a secure and digitized system, it becomes difficult to verify citizenship and prevent misuse.

It is time for Zambia to modernize its national ID system moving to secure, digital, and verifiable IDs that protect citizens, strengthen trust, and safeguard the nation’s reputation.

Digital identity systems are becoming a key part of modern governance and digital transformation. Our new report explores Zambia’s journey toward a national Digital ID system, highlighting opportunities for improved service delivery, financial inclusion, and digital governance. Over the next few days, we’ll share key insights from the report to help explain what Digital ID means for citizens, institutions, and the future of digital services in Zambia.
Join the conversation: What comes to mind when you hear the term Digital ID?