[UgaBYTES] Importance of Public-Private partnerships in rual ICTs: The Zambian Monthly meeting notes

[Dean Mulozi]

Dear all, 
The issue of Public-Private Partnerships in ICTs is an important one and could help facilitate rural development in Zambia through ICT intergration and interventions. 
The issue was thoroughly discussed at a recent a monthly members Ebrain Forum discussion meeting held at Lusaka Hotel on 26th June. The presenters, Mark Bennet, Managing Director of a local ISP, Africonnect Zambia and Dean Mulozi, Director(ZAA-ICT), an NGO for ICTs in Zambia, emphasized the subject with more positive comments from the audience.  
Key points emerged from the presentations: 
Many rural Zambians have no access to morden ICTs such as internet connectivity 
Dependence on Foreign Satelites in many African countries and Zambia in particular nakes internet access costly
Poor private sector investments in rural areas due to absence of adequate infrastructure for rural Areas   
Energy infrastructure in rural areas affects overall rural connectivity services 
Policy implications on rural communications 

Arising from the two presenters, the meeting called upon the private sector, government and civil society to increase partnership initiatives to enable more investments and projects for ICTs in rural areas. The best example was from the Africonnect partnerhships with local communtities in a Namwala ICT project, a local Telecenter located in rural southern part of Zambia.  
The need for shared services through community based telecenters was also emphasised by the meeting, due to costs of communications in rural areas. 
However, the meeting noted that the future outlook for Zambia rural communications looks bright as some infrastructre projects are currently going on; the Fibre projects being undertaken by Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation and ZAMTEL and Coppebelt Energy Corporation. These will evtualy connect to regional friber hubs such as the one from East Africa.     
The emrging technologies in customised PCs for education and school kids is another good thing. Some small PCs demonstrated in the meeting was encouraging, as the cost of one was between $100-300 landed costs and could make access to ICT tools much easier. 

The meeting resolved to enourage the private sector and civil socity organisations to join hands thrpough PPP to increase advocacy to government to make pronouncements into action. 
    
Dean Mulozi,   
ZAA-ICT/SATNET Regional Facilitator,   
Private Bag 195x Ridgeway,   
Lusaka,  
Zambia.

Contact Phone:   260 211 234 627 
Mobile:          260 978 034196