Technology review for every Zambian

From our web stories follow the link and learn more about these technology reviews for every Zambian. Lensesview is here to guide and help you with the latest trends, information security, system setups, and top tips.

• Launched Zambia National Public Key Infrastructure Explained

  On September 7, 2026, Zambia’s government—through ZICTA, SMART Zambia, and the Ministry of Technology and Science—officially launched the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI).

  If that name sounds complicated, think of NPKI as a digital official stamp. In the physical world, when you need an official document validated, an authority presses a rubber stamp onto paper so everyone knows it is genuine. NPKI brings that exact same trust and verification to the internet.

  When you use online services, NPKI works behind the scenes using secure mathematical keys. It acts like an online “passport office,” ensuring that government portals, financial services, and digital documents are real, secure, and cannot be forged.

  What It Changes for the Everyday Zambian

  • Less Paperwork and Bus Fares: Getting official documents like land records, business registrations, or birth certificates usually means traveling into town, paying for transport, and waiting in long queues. With NPKI, digital signatures carry full legal power. You can sign and submit applications from your phone or computer without leaving home.
    
  • Protection from Mobile Fraud & Scams: Scammers frequently target citizens through fake identity schemes or SIM-swap scams. NPKI gives banks and mobile networks a foolproof way to confirm identities, protecting your mobile money and savings.
    
  • Easier Proof of School & Exam Results: Verifying Grade 12 results or NRC copies usually requires physical police stamps or court certification. Under NPKI, institutions can issue digital certificates that colleges or employers verify instantly online.
    
  • Knowing Websites Are Real: Scammers often build fake websites to steal passwords. NPKI ensures that when you visit an official portal (like e-Government or online banking), your browser can confirm it is genuinely the real system.

  The Big Picture

  NPKI is not a new app you have to download, nor does it replace your physical NRC. Instead, it creates a safe foundation for the whole country’s internet. For everyday citizens, it means spending less time standing in lines and more time doing tasks safely online.

• Could MTN MoMo Become a Bank in Zambia? What MTN’s New Strategy Means

  MTN Group is considering applying for banking licences in selected African markets as it looks beyond mobile-money transfers and towards direct lending.

  MTN Group chief executive Ralph Mupita said on 25 August 2026 that lending had become one of the company’s fastest-growing financial services. A banking licence could allow MTN to accept deposits and lend customers its own money instead of depending entirely on banks and other financial partners. Reuters

  However, MTN has not announced that it is applying for a banking licence in Zambia. The company says it will consider markets with large customer bases and substantial amounts held in mobile-money wallets.

  MoMo already feels like a bank

  Many Zambians already use MTN MoMo to store money, transfer funds, pay bills and buy airtime. MTN says its service has more than five million users in Zambia.

  Credit is also available through Kwanisa Na MoMo, but MTN does not presently provide that overdraft itself. Its published terms identify JUMO as the financial-service provider. JUMO determines the customer’s limit and charges an access fee and daily interest. MTN Zambia’s product terms

  A banking licence could change this arrangement by allowing MTN to finance some loans directly.

  What could change for you, me and customers?

  If Zambia were selected, MTN could potentially introduce more savings, credit and merchant-financing products within MoMo. Customers might receive faster loan decisions because transaction history can help assess affordability.

  Competition with banks could also improve access for people without conventional bank accounts.

  The risks are equally serious. Easy borrowing through a phone can make debt feel deceptively harmless. Customers would need clear information about interest, access fees, repayment periods and what happens after default.

  MTN would also carry greater responsibility for protecting deposits, managing credit losses and complying with Bank of Zambia requirements.

  For now, MTN MoMo is not becoming a Zambian bank. The group is only examining the possibility in selected markets. But its direction is clear: mobile money is moving beyond sending cash. The phone in your pocket is gradually becoming a bank branch—minus the queue and the pen tied to a string.

• Starlink Global Roam is No More Whats Next for What Zambian Users

  Starlink has discontinued its Global Roam service plan in August 2026, affecting customers who relied on one subscription to use their equipment across different countries.

  The plan was closed to new customers on 15 July 2026 and withdrawn from existing subscribers on 17 August 2026, according to Starlink’s official support notice.

  For most Zambian Starlink users, however, there is no need to panic—or change plans unnecessarily.

  Who is affected?

  The change mainly affects customers who were specifically subscribed to Global Roam. These may include people who:

  • Regularly travel between Zambia and other countries with their Starlink equipment
  • Operate across several countries
  • Bought and activated a kit in another country
  • Used Global Roam to keep an imported kit connected in Zambia
  • Work in remote locations requiring cross-border internet access

  Customers using a correctly registered Residential plan at a fixed address in Zambia are not directly affected by the closure of Global Roam.

  What should affected users do?

  First, sign in to the Starlink website or mobile application and check the plan shown under your subscription. Do not assume that owning a portable Starlink Mini means you were using Global Roam.

  If Global Roam has been removed from your account, review the replacement plans Starlink makes available to you. The options may depend on the kit, registered country and intended use.

  A local Residential plan is likely the most sensible choice when the equipment will remain at one address in Zambia. Roam may suit movement within permitted areas, while customers who genuinely require international coverage may have to consider the more expensive Global Priority service.

  Starlink describes Local Priority as intended for inland coverage rather than worldwide or ocean use. Travellers should therefore confirm the geographic limits before switching.

  Be careful with imported kits

  Zambians buying second-hand or imported Starlink equipment should confirm that the seller can transfer ownership. A cheap kit is not much of a bargain when it arrives carrying someone else’s account problems.

  Before paying, verify:

  • The kit has been released from the previous account
  • It can be activated in Zambia
  • A suitable Zambian service plan is available
  • There are no outstanding restrictions
  • The serial and Kit ID details are genuine

  The end of Global Roam does not mean Starlink has stopped working in Zambia. It means international users must move to another eligible plan. Check your account first, compare the actual cost and coverage, and only then make the switch.

• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Expected This Week: What Zambian Buyers Should Know

  Samsung’s next Galaxy S26 device will be unveiled on Thursday, 27 August 2026, during an online Galaxy Event beginning at 14:00 Zambian time.

  The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is expected to join an S26 family that has already been on sale since February 2026. Samsung will unveil its newest S26-series member, promising flagship camera and AI experiences at what is expected to be a more accessible price.

  In its official event announcement, Samsung said the new addition would bring core Galaxy S26 experiences—from cameras and artificial intelligence to the latest version of One UI—to a wider audience.

  Samsung has not officially named the phone. However, leaks and industry reports strongly suggest that it will be the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, the more affordable Fan Edition member of the S26 family.

  Expected Galaxy S26 FE specifications

  Unconfirmed reports point to a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

  The expected specifications include:

  • Samsung Exynos 2500 processor
  • 8GB of RAM
  • 128GB, 256GB or possibly 512GB storage
  • 50MP main camera
  • 12MP ultrawide camera
  • 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom
  • 4,900mAh battery
  • 45W wired charging
  • IP68 dust and water resistance
  • One UI 9 based on Android 17

  These details remain unofficial until Samsung confirms them during the event.

  What Zambian buyers should watch

  The biggest question is not whether the Galaxy S26 FE will be powerful—it probably will be. The real question is its price.

  Fan Edition phones are supposed to deliver near-flagship performance without the full flagship bill. However, if the S26 FE arrives too close to the standard Galaxy S26 price, a discounted Galaxy S25 or S25 FE could offer better value.

  Zambian availability may also come later than the global unveiling. Buyers should wait for confirmed local pricing, warranty coverage and network compatibility before ordering from an overseas seller.

  The launch will stream live through Samsung’s website and YouTube channel. Lensesview will assess the final specifications and whether the new device makes financial sense for Zambian buyers after the announcement. So keep up with us.