Macha Works Zambia

Macha Works installed fourty PCs in a designated computer room at Nurses Training School at Macha. NTS Macha has 100 NTS students following the 2 year program and aided by access to Information and Communications Technologies, this number can grow further.This installation is part of Macha Works' program to support Nurses Training Schools.

Engineering solutions deployed at LinkNet were subject of discussions and peer-reviewed during meetings in San Francisco. Highlights were the TIER meeting and meetings at Inveneo. TIER is a research group at the University of California at Berkeley, investigating the design and deployment of new technologies for emerging regions. Inveneo is involved in ICT solutions for organizations in rural and under-served areas in the developing world.

Otzbert Kasokola, Macha Works Unit Director LinkNet signed funding agreement with Catholic Relief Services for participation of LinkNet in the Integrated Support for ART and PMTCT program in Lusaka today. This agreement empowers Macha Works, LinkNet to build further capacity to implement and monitor ICT and SmartCare systems in different types of health facilities. Also the endeavor to deploy and connect ICT in rural Nurses Training Schools will be facilitated.

In follow up of the partnership of CAZ and LinkNet, Mr. Kango Mbewe of Communiciations Authority of Zambia (CAZ) performed an on site visit at LinkNet Macha to assess progress LinkNet Resource Containers for Kalene, Chilonga and Minga. He was shown around by Elton Munguya, Team Leader Network Operations Center and Otzbert Kasokolo, Unit Director LinkNet.

Macha Works' Michael Mweembe and Calpin Meemba work with sixteen volunteers of International Technical Electric and Construction, more commonly known as I-TEC, putting in kilometers of underground electricity distribution cabling at Ubuntu Campus in Macha. This work, which preparation to several years, involves hundreds of local staff, digging trenches and putting cables.

In its aim to relentlessly endeavor with local talent to produce viable engineering solutions for communications in rural areas, LinkNet partnered in an initiative consisting of 18 institutes, companies and universities from Europe and Africa. The cooperation boasts entities, SMEs, and research Institutes, with experts in many different fields and countries. The aim of the cooperation is 'Connecting The Unconnected' by developing technologies that provide “low cost, energy efficient and reliable” access to global communications and services for rural, emerging, and developing areas. First tangible result of the cooperation is production of comprehensive and innovative public-private partnership research proposals to the European Union, in which LinkNet provides the living lab environment.

Collaboration has started between LinkNet and Nurses Training Schools to introduce e-learning, to alleviate pressing human resource shortages and grow school capabilities and quality of education. At Macha, cooperation with the Nurses Training School started with inventorying needs of teaching staff, and computer literacy among students. Introduction of computers coupled with internet connectivity is going to provide new tools and lead towards greater efficiency for the Nurses Training School teachers and students.

IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society, 125 years anniversary is in May 2009. Today, Zambia joined in with IEEE Sections across the globe and celebrates 125 years of innovation and ingenuity with a unique gathering of engineers at rural Macha.

Engineers from all over Zambia gathered with drive and focus for sustainable progress in rural areas. The meeting did encompass a tour of the community driven programs and projects at Macha, presentations on IEEE's Zambian Section followed by festivities at Ubuntu Campus. Dep. Minister of Communications and Transport, Hon. Mubika Mubika provided for a special statement to the engineers gathering at Macha, and the rural community welcomes Zambia's engineers with both hands, and traditional dances and singing.

Gregory Mweemba, Fred Mweetwa and Gertjan van Stam had the honor to introduce Information and Communications Technology during a presentation in the House of Chiefs in Lusaka today. The presentation is live on the Internet, and addresses issues pertaining the use of ICT in rural areas. The invitation to present on ICT in this respected and honored body shows the interest and commitment of Zambian Chiefs to address this important issue, which is one of the pre-requisits for wholesome progress and involvement of all stakeholders.

Fred Mweetwa and Gregory Mweemba met Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Hon. Bradford Machila to explain on holistic development taking place in Macha. Subject was the introduction of internet at rural Macha, and how people's lives have greatly changed in various ways. Further subject was the Jatropha planting to solve energy problems in rural areas, and its potential for areas that have no access to the nation power grid.