Organisation
LinkNet organisation developments.
 Today Fred Mweetwa, Macha Works, and Otzbert Kasokola, LinkNet participated at the workshop on the role out of telecenters. The workshop in Lusaka consisted of managers of telecenters throughout Zambia and was officially opened by Ministry of Transport and Communications director Mr Soko. LinkNet's presentation, done live from the Internet, touched the hearts of people present. Participants were keenly interested in incorporation of all stakeholders. It was mentioned that the Macha Works model deserves attention as it provides for a holistic model in sustainable development.
 Macha Works presents at Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation meeting on 'Investing in ICTs in Emerging Markets', 9-10 December 2009 in London, UK. This meeting centers on practical ways of identifying and examining the opportunities and potential in various segments of the ICT sector in Africa, the Caribbean, Middle-East and Asia. The Macha Works model is presented as practical case on how ICTs drives sustainable progress in a rural economy.
 The Macha Works model and the LinkNet network at Macha featured in presentations at AfriComm 2009, the first International ICST Conference on e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Development Countries, 4/5 December 2009 in Maputo, Mozambique. A paper by Jonathan Backens and Gregory Mweemba was accepted for presentation (see attachment). Also a Google Earth representation of the many wireless nodes network at Macha was featured. In the running up to the conference, representatives from Global Research Alliance partners Frauenhofer from Germany and VTT from Finland visited Macha Works in Zambia to review rural ICT implementations 'in practice'.
The books for Fiscal Year 2009 (1 April 2008 - 31 March 2009) are finalized and audited. The independent, external auditor concluded that the statements give a true and fair view of the state of affairs at Macha Works. This results from an extensive and involving process of growing professionalism in our grass root, rural African organization.
Upon invitation by the Communications Authority of Zambia, partner of LinkNet in the role out of services in Zambia, LinkNet is honored to participate at the 10th Forum on Telecommunications/ICT Regulations and Partnerships in Africa (FTRA-2009), a three day conference held at the Mulungushi Conference Center in Lusaka, 20-22 May 2009. Fred Mweetwa, Chief Operations Officer leads the delegation from Macha. The conference discusses the Universal Service Fund of the International Telecommunications Union. The draft agenda for this conference is attached. Our participation also involves partici
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As part of its commitment to involve all stakeholders in rural communities, LinkNet initiated a Chief-to-Chief exchange in North Western Province of Zambia, 4-5 April. Participants were His Royal Highness Senior Chief Kasempa in Kasempa district, His Royal Highness Senior Chief Sikufela in Kabompo district, and His Royal Highness Chief Natshima in Zambezi district. Discussions centered on the holistic development of rural areas, in line with the Macha Works model. The visiting team started from Macha, with His Royal Highness Chief Chikanta, and Macha Works/ LinkNet's Fred Mweetwa, Daniel Mashata, and Elton Munguya. During the visits, the Chiefs mentioned their enthusiastic support for introducing Information Communication and Technology in their chiefdoms. They expect it to support improvement of the community livelihood in various sectors, like Preservation of African culture, support in education, retaining of experts, and efficiency gains in health in their chiefdoms.
LinkNet initiates Chief-to-Chief exchange to support interchange of rural experiences and ideas, and that local communities are consulted, sensitized, and participate in Information Communication and Technologies for Progress (ICT4P).
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Mr. Jackson Mwape of Churches Health Association of Zambia visits Macha to follow up on the collaborative work done in rolling out of holistic development and internet in rural areas of Zambia.
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The Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) and LinkNet signed an agreement for funding for LinkNet expansion to further rural sites. The full text of the remarks by Action Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Richard Mwanza is underneath. With CAZ' commitment and partnership, this strengthens the LinkNet coalition that works to execute the master plan to assure that our neighbors in rural areas are connected.
News at: Daily Mail, Zambia
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 During a visit to her chiefdom, Chieftainess Mwenda warmly welcomed the opportunities that ICT offer for development. Fred Mweetwa and Gregory Mweemba heard this during their meeting with the chieftainess, whom invited Macha Works to explain progress at Macha during the next meeting of her advisory committee and come up with ideas as how to integrate ICTs for her communities. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kaile, of Chikankata Mission Hospital invited LinkNet to support the hospital, its many subsidery activities, and the community at large, with cost effective internet connectivity and holistic solutions. LinkNet has hit the ground running and informed its partners to include support to this rural area right away.
 Executive Secretary Dr. Wanchinga heads a delegation of the National Science and Technology Council of Zambia that is in Macha today. As part of their tour of MIAM they visited LinkNet's operations room. There Fred Mweetwa informed them about specifics of LinkNet, the many works at Macha, and the national and international partnerships of LinkNet in Science and Technology. The delegation visit Macha Girls High School, where students participate in synchronised science experiments while in communications with their peer students in Europe through LinkNet's internet network.
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