Artificial Intelligence has increased the ZRA’s capacity to collect revenue by 60%

Delivering a lecture on Artificial Intelligence at the University of Lusaka Silverest Campus in Chongwe District on 18 June, the Minister for Technology and Science Felix Mutati revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has had profound effects on the ZRA’s revenue collection.

The Minister pointed to the benefits of AI across a range of sectors, and implored Zambians to embrace it. AI has given the ZRA technological tools to increase revenue collection and tax compliance.

The ZRA’s Commissioner General, Dingani Banda explained that the use of AI had helped the organisation detect fraud, and analyse importing and exporting activities online.

He added, “AI will help the dispensation of justice by ensuring that those who do not understand English, AI gadgets will translate court proceedings and no one will go to jail for not understanding English.”

Demonstrating the range of sectors which could benefit from AI, Zambia could utilise it to predict extreme weather conditions and prepare further in advance for climate challenges such as floods and droughts.

Zambia is connected to seven of its neighbours with fibre optic which will improve the country’s digital connectivity and infrastructure for business and commerce to flourish.