The untimely death of our President has shaken us all. During this period of national mourning our organization takes time for contemplation and prayer.

All LinkNet associates extend our condolences to the family of President Mwanawasa and all people from Zambia. This is a time to be together in consideration for the country and standing around the first family. We trust the Lord will guide Zambia, its people and it leadership through this challenging period in time.

Dr. Adrian Pais, whom among other duties serves at the IEEE Publications & Products Board, organised an IEEE Outreach on 14 August 2008 in Lusaka. During the event LinkNet presented the presentation "Vision for Rural Telecommunications Connectivity in Zambia". Leaflet is attached.

Today marked the beginning of a new season for LITA with the start of 'Class of 2008'.

For the very first time LITA opened its doors to provide public computer classes to the community at large. After several weeks of sorting through applications and setting up curriculum, the LITA staff welcomed 27 new students today. Student were enrolled from as far away as Kitwe (Central Province) and Mukinge (Northwest Province) with the majority coming from the greater Macha (Southern Province) area.

Mrs. Esenath Mpatwa, Head of the Special Initiatives Division of the International Telecommunications Union, Development Bureau, from Geneva, Switzerland was in Macha today. Guided by, and teamed up with, the Communications Authority of Zambia she payed LinkNet a visit. Gregory Mweemba and Fred Mweetwa showed Macha's tangibles resulting from the holistic approach that is yielding success. Evolving discussions were inspiring and centered on shared outlook and focus. Also avenues of cooperation were explored. LinkNet is privilaged with these visits as they help to inspire the people in rural communities to achieve their collective and individual potential.

The past week respected accountant Mr. Kalambo and colleague audited LinkNet's book over the first year, April 2007 to March 2008. The auditors determined that the accounting records were accurate and up-to-date; that internal controls were sufficient; both administrative officers and here deputy prepare bank reconciliations and verify the reconciliations prepared by each other. And Mr. Kalambo and colleague tested all receipts and disbursements transactions for twelve months during the audit period and noted no recording errors or irregularities.

The collaborative paper of LinkNet and TNO on "Internet in rural areas of Zambia: a user study" was presented at the IST-Africa 2008 conference today. Presenters were Paul van Hoorik, TNO, and Fred Mweetwa, Secretary Board of LinkNet. The audience responded being encouraged that implementation of ICT was taking place in rural areas, and lots of interest on progress was shown. New contacts emerged, resulting in growth of the number of stakeholders involved in Zambia and abroad.

This was one of those days.. At the Ark three power supplies burned of three new and recently installed PCs. One puff, and they were gone. Otzbert Kasokola saw it happening and reported sparks and smoke coming out of the PCs. The computer repair team started their work right away and within a couple of hours the computers were in use again.

Gregory Mweemba witnesses the disaster of the day in the Macha IT room, LinkNet's main computer center. Heavy smoke was bellowing from the IT room when entering. A bundle of cabling had just burned away and everything was covered by a gulf of blackness. We are grateful fire only caught one part of the set up, and did not spread. The actual cause might have been a UPS blowing up, or a power socket going haywire, or a combination of the two. After taking of pictures the equipment was put outside and a cleaning team went in. Then the task of restoring service commenced. Within the day Internet service was restored!

In the IEEE GOLD publication, an article appeared entitled "an inclusive world". It was written in Macha and is at page 4. It starts with "In rural Africa one learns to appreciate the inclusive nature of the local African culture. Where I live and work, one is instantly regarded as an integral part of the social environment and interactions proceed with people as if one has been always present. For true progress, co-operation is imperative between engineers and applied scientists all over the world in a multi-disciplinary way. Africa has contributions to make, especially since working inclusively and holistically is enshrined in the African philosophical framework of a cultural reality based upon relationship-based economics."