Traditional ruler of Kaonde wants benefits of ICT extended to rural children

Senior Chief Mujimanzovu of the Kaonde people in Mushindamo district of North-Western province says there is need to expose children in rural areas to Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Mujimanzovu said this desire was as a result of government interventions that had provided network connectivity to the most rural parts of Zambia following the upgrade of network towers from 2G technology.

The traditional leader said this when Technology and Science Minister, Felix Mutati, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace on Monday in Mushindamo.

He said the improvement of network connectivity and communication in rural areas such as his, was an indication that government was extending development but that the children need to also be abreast with ICT.

“Some chiefdoms including mine are not appropriately connected to the network thereby making communication very difficult as network in some areas is intermittent because of the 2G towers that existed,” Mujimanzovu stated.

He said communication was no longer a need but a necessity and it was for this reason the traditional leadership was extremely grateful to government for considering connecting rural areas to the rest of the country through the upgrade of network towers.

“I am also grateful for a lot of things that government is doing, among them; the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which is responding to most challenges faced in rural areas of Zambia,” the traditional leader stated.

During the courtesy call, Mutati announced that government had upgraded selected towers from 2G to 3G and 4G.

He said a total of 60 brand new and upgraded mobile network towers would be erected and connected in North Western Province which would see improved connectivity benefiting the local people.

“Government’s ambition this year will be focusing on rural Zambia connectivity thereby providing equal access to opportunities for the Zambians,” he stated.

Mutati said in North Western Province’s rural areas alone, 19 brand new towers would be erected this year and all towers with 2G connectivity would be upgraded to 4G in order to provide both voice and data network with ease.

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