Mwale Kezias Emerges New ATU Secretary-General

Mwale Kezias from Zambia has been elected the new Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), set to serve a three-year term from 2027 to 2030. The election concluded the 7th Ordinary Session of the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries held in Abuja.

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I stand before you today with profound humility and deep gratitude, honoured by the confidence and trust that the member states of the ATU have bestowed upon me by electing me to serve as the Secretary-General for the 2027–2030 term.

Kezias secured victory in the fourth round of voting with 21 votes, surpassing South Africa's Cynthia Lesufi, who garnered eight votes, and Cameroon's Vallery Ottou, who received five. The decision came after no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority in the initial three rounds.

In his acceptance speech, Kezias expressed deep gratitude to the ATU member states for their trust and confidence. He pledged to collaborate with governments, regulators, development partners, and other stakeholders to address Africa's digital divide. "I accept this mandate mindful that leadership is not a privilege to be enjoyed, but a trust to be honoured and safeguarded," Kezias stated.

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I accept this mandate mindful that leadership is not a privilege to be enjoyed, but a trust to be honoured and safeguarded.

He highlighted the significant opportunities presented by rapid technological advancements and Africa's potential to shape its digital future. Kezias emphasized the importance of ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly children, women, and persons with disabilities. His agenda includes expanding affordable connectivity, promoting digital inclusion, strengthening cybersecurity, fostering innovation, developing digital skills, and amplifying Africa's voice in global digital policy discussions.

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Our continent has the talent, innovation, creativity, and determination to shape its own digital future. Our responsibility, therefore, is to ensure that no country, no community, and no citizen, especially children, women, and persons with disabilities, is left behind.

Earlier, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), urged African nations to take ownership of their digital development, stressing that it must be designed, built, managed, and driven by Africans themselves. This aligns with the sentiment that Africa's digital future should be African-led.

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The Geneva digital events that took place two weeks ago made it clear that Africa’s digital future must be designed, built, managed, and innovated by Africans.