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

[MILNER MAKUNI]

Hi,
I would like to congratulate Dean and Mark for the presentations and would really appreciate any recommendation from the presenters or from audience which our Secretariat can pick up for implementation.
 
We need to have a position paper which we can lobby Goverment and as oversight body for ICT in Zambia on issues raised so that there is continuity and the knowledge shared can be followed up for any impact and value to the general public.
 
Thanks to all members that attended and I also had a good experience in Mongu where we were participating in the workshop on Careers for high school students. We had a total number of 1,700 pupils and our stand made presentation on ICTs for development an IT career prospects. There is overwelming response in western Province particularly Mongu for ICT4D and establishment of ICT interest groups ( Chapters) but we need to how we can remotely manage these expansion in mind of our strategic plan.
 
The main challenge is internet connectivity , lack of awareness of ICTs as tools for development especially at individual level. The Provincial centre has seen stead growth in terms of economic activities as can be seen in the growth of infrastures and new buildings.
 
How can the rich traditional culture of Western Province, fish industry, Mwange ( Grass for roofing), Tasty Mongu Rice benefit from ICTs?  Are these products and services advertised on Internet websites? 
 
Each Province in Zambia has enormous potential of  natural resources and potential economic activities and diverse culture twhich can be specifically take advantage of ICT tools to imrpove the livelihood of Zambian citizens. 
 
Will the rural access funds bring specific benefits? What is the model of building Information resource centres is the Ministry ofr CAZ using in tapping the potential? Have we done a research or consultancy to see which are the critical success factors and specific deliverables out of this good goverment initiative?
The answers lies in our hands and as e-brain forum of Zambia, we can participate meaningfully in such initiative for the benefit of the larger society.
 
MM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

--- On Sun, 29/6/08, Dean Mulozi <deanmulozi at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Dean Mulozi <deanmulozi at yahoo.com>
Subject: [ebrain] Importance of Public-Private partnerships in rual ICTs: The Zambian Monthly meeting notes
To: "e- Brain Forum of Zambia Members" <ebrain at dgroups.org>
Cc: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
Date: Sunday, 29 June, 2008, 11:51 AM

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
 




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