Macha Works Zambia

This is the full text of the "REMARKS BY ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MR RICHARD MWANZA ON THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY AND MACHA-LINKNET FOR FINANCING FOR DEPLOYMENT OF RURAL MULTI-PURPOSE TELECENTRES MODELED ON THE MACHA LINKNET CONCEPT", spoken on April 16, 2009 at the Communications Authority of Zambia Head Quarters in Lusaka, Zambia"

"The Vice Chairman of the Communications Authority Board of Regulators, the Delegation from Macha, representatives of service operators, your Royal Highness, members of the press, Ladies and Gentlemen. I welcome you to Communications Authority for  this significant event.

The objective of inviting you to this event, is for you to witness the signing of an agreement between the Communications Authority and Macha_LinkNet for the Financing the deployment of Rural Multi-Purpose Telecentres modeled on the Macha LinkNet concept as a contribution to the Universal Access of ICT Services.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Universal Access of ICT services with particular reference to rural areas is an issue that has been on the agenda of most countries in the whole world today. You are aware that while some countries are currently effectively extending services to rural areas using various means, others have found this challenging and have ended up with underutilized funds in the banks. The challenges have emanated from various angles ranging from legal regulatory to socio-economic dynamics. In Zambia, we have grappled with this issue due to the legal framework.

The foregoing notwithstanding, Communications Authority has overtime been setting aside a percentage from license fee revenues for use towards this cause. The Authority is finally ready to implement the Universal Access programme in rural Zambia and that effort begins with this agreement today whose aim is to facilitate deployment of integrated ICT facilities through Macha LinkNet. You may not be aware that the MoU being signed with Macha_LinkNet is an integrated ICT service solution providing services to the rural community located about 70 Km away from Choma district. This model is an initiative born out of of a VSAT service operated by the Malaria Research Centre located in Macha which eventually grew to a multifaceted community based resource servicing the needs of private and government institutions in that community.

The Board of the Authority has considered the model a success story and would like it to be replicated in other parts of the country. It being a highly regarded home grown solution, the Authority is of the view that other deep rural communities can benefit from such an integrated ICT solution which will offer a variety of services to the community while at the same time relying on the local resources of the community to the extent possible.

It is as a result of its experience and the impact its services have had on that local  community that Communications Authority identified Macha_LinkNet as the entity to deploy a similar model to other rural areas.

The initial three (03) beneficiaries identified for this programme are Chilonga in Northern province, Kalene in North-Western and Miinga in Eastern Province.

The immediate benefit for these communities will be access to ICTs at affordable rates for the local communities in the mentioned areas. Apart from mainstream telecom services, these facilities are envisaged to provide training in ICTs for the local communities in the respective areas.

May I mention at this point that this is not the end of the work the Authority is undertaking with regard to Universal Access. Other efforts are being undertaken in consultation with the service providers which will very soon result in provision of financing for other projects in other parts of the country. You will be informed on progress regarding these activities.

My remarks will be incomplete if I fail to acknowledge and appreciate the ICT Policy set by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and wonderful collaboration the Authority has experienced working with the various mobile and internet service providers in this quest. May I also mention that these activities are possible because of the contributions generated from these very persons for the good of our brothers in outlying yet to be serviced areas. Please keep it up. This is the spirit that should be forged.

I now take the pleasure to invite the signing parties for the actual signing."