CAZ bemoans cotton farmers’ lack of negotiating power
By Fridah Zinyama
Tue 23 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT
LOCAL cotton producers lag behind their peers on the continent in economically benefiting from the product because they lack negotiating power, Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) executive director Joseph Nkole has observed.
Nkole said while farmers in other heavy cotton producing countries like in West Africa were flourishing and making a serious dent on rural poverty, Zambian farmers continue to struggle to make serious returns on their investment as they are at the mercy of the ginning companies.
Nkole said it would be difficult for local farmers to raise their business profile and get meaningful margins on their investment as long as they lacked adequate and reliable working finance.
Currently, the cotton producing sector is primarily driven by the private ginners who contract individual farmers to produce the cotton and also set the price of the commodity. Zambia has around 280,000 smallholder farmers, who are engaged in seed cotton production.
“We believe that the cotton industry is very important to Zambia, it creates employment for a lot of people,” he said.
“With the financial assistance of donors, a lot can be done to pay the farmers involved in the sector.”
Nkole said there was a lot that CAZ learnt which had to be taught to its members through the help of the funds the European Union (EU) provided.
The EU through the European Development Fund (EDF) had released about 236,810 Euros to provide technical assistance to the sector.
The funds were released through the Capacity Building for Private Sector Development (CBPSD) under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and working with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the project was started in 2007 and successfully completed late last year.
“We were able to undertake some study tours to West Africa through where Zambian cotton farmers could learn from the experiences of the largest cotton producing countries in Africa like Burkina Faso and Mali,” he said.
“In these countries, the producers take advantage of their negotiating power to become more involved in the cotton industry, especially on pricing decisions.”
Nkole explained that presently local farmers had a challenge in negotiating selling prices for their produce, a situation which had adversely affected them.
“This is mainly because, farmers are not financially empowered to grow cotton on their own, hence ginning companies coming on the scene to provide inputs for cotton production to farmers,” he said.
“We were also able to organise another study tour of east Africa where CAZ was able to see the more effective use of the Cotton Out-grower Fund like the one operated by the ministry of agriculture.
“From there we learnt the various self financing mechanisms that operate in the region, which we can duplicate in Zambia.”
Nkole said the association had hired an international cotton consultant who helped to update the cotton pricing model earlier developed by the Smallholder Enterprises Marketing Programme (SHEMP).
“This knowledge helped us to negotiate on behalf of farmers with ginning companies on seed cotton prices of 2007/08 season from position of strength,” Nkole said. “We were also able to develop the CAZ negotiation paper for pre-planting prices.”
Zambia’s cotton industry has developed into the largest quasi-formal distribution network with an estimated two million dependents participating in various out-grower schemes.
A lot of people depend directly and indirectly for their incomes and livelihoods on the cotton value chain.
Despite the cotton industry’s great potential to contribute to the national economy, the sector continued to face enormous challenges that needed to be adequately addressed if the sector was to move forward and raise output.
Nkole explained that most of the activities CAZ undertook with the help of the EU were meant to ensure the growth of the domestic cotton industry.
Nkole added that CAZ was able to adequately train farmers on the importance of following communication structures and regular follow-ups with regard to governance, information dissemination and observance of the sanctity of contracts.
“We were also able to train our farmers on best practices and integrated pest management and managed to come up with a simple cost of effective farmer training model,” he said.
“It is imperative that the cotton industry continues to grow as it supports a lot of people in the country and is a source of revenue for government.”
Nkole explained that the CAZ negotiating paper involved updating the cotton pricing model, market trends and cotton input prices for the 2008/09 season.
“The association was able to negotiate with the ginning companies’ issues relating to pre-planting prices and incentives on behalf of the farmers,” he said. “Farmers also learnt the simple gross margin analysis for maize, soya and cotton and have since decided on the crop mix.”
Nkole said the association was also able to finalise the CAZ-Farmer communication concept.
“As CAZ, we noticed that there were no communication structures in place which would easily avail information to farmers,” said Nkole.
“This prompted us to conduct CAZ district membership awareness meetings in the 18 key cotton growing districts of Zambia through the Zambia National Farmers Union/ District Farmers Associations.”
And one of the beneficiary farmers from the training, Stanley Mwiinga, said most farmers in Mumbwa lacked good farming practices, a situation which led to low cotton seed output.
“Previously, we did not have adequate training on how to manage our crops,” Mwiinga said. “We did not consider farming as a business hence did not even keep books to see how much we spent and how much we made from selling our cotton.”
Mwiinga said more support should be given to farmers in order for them to improve their production.
“In the past, I used to practice bad farming methods which contributed to my harvesting a poor crop,” said Mwiinga.
“Now I know how to use chemicals like Folifet which helps to improve the nutritional content of the plant which helps the cotton plant to sustain the number of balls which it produces until the cotton is ready for harvest.”
Another farmer, Kingsley Mapia said most farmers in the district had learnt different farming methods and how to apply weed killing chemicals.
Ernes Kalumbwe, one among the few women involved in cotton production, said it was not only males who produced cotton in Mumbwa.
“Women have learnt to plant different crops like a cash crop, legumes and a cereal,” said Kalumbwe adding that producing a cereal and legume ensured that families had food security while a cash crop was a source of income for the farmers.
Kalumbwe said women in the village had learnt to bake and cook using legumes like soya beans which were making their families healthy.
Some farmers actually suggested that CAZ find some funds to help them set up a revolving fund which would enable them to become self-financing in cotton production.
They contend the situation would help farmers produce their own crop which they would later sale to ginners at a good price.
Labels: CAZ, COTTON, JOSEPH NKOLE
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My contemptuous words were a response to Rupiah – Kavindele
By Laura Hamusute
Wed 13 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
FORMER vice-president Enoch Kavindele yesterday apologised for putting the Supreme Court into disrepute explaining that he uttered the contemptuous words in response to a statement by President Rupiah Banda in his address to Zamtel employees in Ndola.
This is in a matter before the Supreme Court where Kavindele is facing a charge of contempt of court in relation to a case involving Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) now Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) and Vodacom Zambia.
On December 8, 2009, the court summoned Kavindele pursuant to Order 52/1/23 of the Rules of the Supreme Court to show cause why he should not be cited or punished for contempt. The court instituted contempt proceedings against Kavindele following a story published in The Post of November 5, 2009 written by George Chellah under the headline 'Adhere to tender laws, Kavindele urges Rupiah's sons'
In the article, Kavindele is reported to have said: “I'm particularly upset that the President himself could direct the Supreme Court to rule against me over Vodacom”.
The court had also summoned Chellah to give evidence in the matter and also produce in court the edition of The Post in question.
In the Vodacom matter, the Supreme Court quashed a High Court judgment that ruled that Vodacom Zambia held the fourth national cellular mobile licence for Zambia.
Earlier in the High Court, Vodacom Zambia Ltd - where Kavindele is director - sued CAZ seeking an injunction restraining them from issuing the fourth national cellular mobile licence to any party other than Vodacom.
Yesterday, Kavindele's lawyer Vincent Malambo told the court that his client did not wish to put the court to the trouble of proving the accuracy of the quotation referred to and that because he had conceded to uttering the words in question, there would be no need to call witnesses to prove the accuracy of the article. Malambo said Kavindele did not wish to waste the court's time and that he was ready to show contrition so as to purge the contempt charge.
At this point, the court asked Malambo if what he said meant that his client was pleading guilty to the charge and he responded in the affirmative.
The court then found Kavindele liable for contempt of court and was now given an opportunity to say something as a way of purging the contempt.
In his plea to purge the contempt charge, Kavindele expressed regret at what he said saying he made the statement following a statement by President Banda when he addressed Zamtel employees at a meeting in Ndola.
The story was published in the Times of Zambia of Saturday, July 25, 2009 headlined: 'Zamtel to be privatised' where President Banda is reported to have said: “I have directed that no mobile licences should be issued until after the privatisation of Zamtel.”
Kavindele testified that President Banda was fully aware that the matter of Vodacom Zambia Ltd and CAZ was before the Supreme Court and in his little experience in government, Presidential instructions came in various ways. He explained that the fact that the matter was still being prosecuted before the court, such a statement in his opinion was meant to prejudice the aforementioned case to those who were going to make the decision.
Kavindele told the court that based on that article, he was interviewed by The Post to establish his feelings as chairman of Vodacom Zambia Ltd and he made the statement in dispute in The Post of November 5, 2009. He said he might have made the statement out of anger and disappointment.
Kavindele said he was sorry if by misinterpreting the statement by President Banda in Ndola, he brought the standing of the eminent court into disrepute in the eyes of the members of the public. He hoped that the court would consider the background to the statement he made.
Kavindele reiterated his apologies to the bench and regretted any embarrassment that his statement may have caused them. He said he had regarded himself as a good citizen and he spent a quarter of his life making laws thus supported the judicial process.
Kavindele testified that apart from being a businessman, he was also a politician and in the profession it was easy to read into what another politician says whether correctly or incorrectly.
In mitigation on behalf of his client, Malambo asked the court to consider the background of the statement his client made and that he had not wasted the court's time.
He told the court that his client's statement was ill-advised and his plea clearly showed that his anger was not directed at the court but at his political colleagues.
Malambo said Kavindele did not intend to embarrass, demean or lower the status of the court.
The matter comes up on February 3, 2010 for ruling.
Labels: CAZ, COURTS, ENOCH KAVINDELE, RUPIAH BANDA, VINCENT MALAMBO, VODACOM, ZICTA
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Kavindele’s interpretation of injunction will affect national security – CAZ
Written by Maluba Jere and Jane Mwakasungula
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 5:27:45 PM
The Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) yesterday said former Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele’s interpretation of the injunction granted to him over the registration of a fourth mobile phone company will affect national security.
On Sunday, Kavindele - who is Vodacom Zambia Limited chairman - said government’s intended sale of 75 per cent shares in Zamtel to an equity partner as announced by President Rupiah Banda will not take place as doing so would be illegal.
Kavindele also threatened to commence contempt of court proceedings against Zain Zambia Plc over the third generation (3G) license awarded to the company as announced last week.
But CAZ public relations and consumer affairs acting director Ngabo Nankonde yesterday said they did not understand Kavindele’s intention because the matter at hand was the fourth mobile license which had nothing to do with other licenses and spectrum that were not fourth mobile related.
“In view of the above, Mr. Kavindele’s interpretation would have adverse effect on not only the economy but also the social and security aspect of the nation,” Nankonde said.
“Mr. Kavindele seems to suggest that the injunction granted to him restrains the Authority from issuing or renewing any licenses [including radio spectrum licences] as well as those which are not fourth mobile related until discharge of the said injunction. The above interpretation would also among other things affect, telephone communication, internet banking via the mobile phone leading to stagnation of the national economy and retardation of national development.”
Nankonde said the authorisation for the Zain Zambia Limited trial tests was not in contravention of the injunction granted to Kavindele. She said that the authorisation given to Zain was issued long before the said injunction.
Nankonde said that in line with the powers conferred on it in section 6(1) (4) of the Radiocommunications Act, it issued a test authorisation to Zain to conduct trials for 3G services in Zambia.
She explained that the authorisation issued was principally for the purposes of establishing among other things, the usability of the technology in Zambia, adding that the said trials would be conducted at no commercial value.
She also said the interpretation of the injunction on the licensing work of the Authority implied that in terms of broadcasting, the final migration of FM broadcasting band replanning would not take place.
Kavindele has threatened to commence contempt of court proceedings against Zain Zambia Plc over the 3G license awarded to the company as announced last week.
During a press briefing in Lusaka, Kavindele said Vodacom Zambia Limited had instructed its lawyers to commence legal proceedings to halt the planned sale of three-quarters of the country's largest Information Communication Technology (ICT) company.
Kavindele, said the injunction granted to Vodacom Zambia Limited by High Court judge Philip Musonda in October last year prohibits the entry of a new cellular telecommunication operator by way of merger, acquisition, investment, divesture and or buy-out of the existing mobile telecommunication providers until the final determination of the case in the Supreme Court.
He said the people in authority were tearing apart the rule of law they swore to uphold and defend through the proposed sale of 75 per cent shares of Zamtel as announced by President Rupiah Banda.
And former transport and communications minister William Harrington has questioned the legality of selling 75 per cent shares of Zamtel when the controversy over its valuation had not yet been cleared.
In an interview, Harrington questioned government on the basis of the privatisation when the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ministry of communications and RP Capital was filled with illegalities.
“I have been at pains to comment on the merits and demerits of government’s decision to partially privatise 75 per cent of Zamtel. On what basis is the 75 per cent sale of shares determined if the MoU is pregnant with illegalities?” Harrington asked.
“The Dennis Chirwa tribunal established a clear breach of the law in the manner RP Capital was contracted. I do not want to speculate on the relationship between Rupiah (President Banda) and former communications and transport minister (Dora Siliya) or between President Banda’s sons and Dora on the engagement of RP Capital as the evaluators. But what has been clearly established by the tribunal is that one of President Banda's sons was involved in the deal.”
Labels: CAZ, DENNIS CHIRWA, ENOCH KAVINDELE, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, VODACOM
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MTN discontinues pay phone programme
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Friday, January 30, 2009 3:11:23 AM
MTN Zambia, the pioneers of public pay phone services in the country, has discontinued the pay phone programme. According to latest data from the Communications Authority Zambia (CAZ), MTN Zambia has not renewed its licence to be public pay phone service provider, which was being done through the Jembi phone.
And CAZ has licensed 19 companies in the country to provide Internet Services in the country.
The licensed internet service providers included Coppernet Solutions Limited, Africonnect, Postlink Zambia, PRONET Online, Zamnet Communications System, Realtime Zambia Limited, Microlink Technologies, MTN Zambia Limited, Quick Edge Limited, Zain Zambia and Bring.Com Zambia Limited.
The rest were UUNet Zambia, Epochal Zambia, Pronet Africa, iBurst Zambia Limited, Comium Data Limited, Foris Telecom, Morse Communications and Zamtel online.
Labels: CAZ, ITC, MTN
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CAZ advises caution in Internet transactions
By Katwishi Bwalya
Friday September 26, 2008 [04:00]
COMMUNICATIONS Authority of Zambia (CAZ) has warned that the Internet is not the best place for financial transactions. In an interview after a media Forum on Cyber Security, CAZ information system manager Garry Mukelebai urged internet users to be security conscious whenever they were transacting on the Internet.
“A lot of people are using computers and other electronic gadgets to defraud people because it is not possible for users to know that someone has entered their computers and got information from them and they may not know that they have been hacked,” Mukelebai said.
He said Zambia currently lacked the ability to fight cyber crime.
“We are lacking in skills, equipment, coherent and organised system and strategy as a nation to fight cyber crimes in the country though some institutions have security departments to deal with it but what we need is a national strategy to do this,” Mukelebai said.
He said people who did not have sufficient software to protect their financial transactions should not rush into buying goods through the Internet.
“Everybody is going into electronic commerce but they should know that the Internet is an open sea so people should keep themselves safe when they transact on the Internet,” Mukelabai said.
He said despite the country lacking a data base on the number of people who have fallen prey to cyber security, his organisation was aware that some Zambians have been robbed of their money through the Internet, although many have not reported the crimes.
“We are trying to bring all the stakeholders on board to fight cyber crime and these are the judiciary and the law enforcement experts, including Internet Service Providers (ISPs) so that as a country, we can fight cyber crime,” said Mukelebai.
Labels: CAZ, CYBERCRIME
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ISSUE: q406
‘Buy our produce’ local farmers urge supermarket chains
01/11/2006
Farmers in the region are complaining that South African food retail chains setting up shop in their countries have a “step-brotherly attitude” towards local produce, writes United Nations news agency IRIN.
“We are deeply concerned and very much disappointed with some of these South African food outlets, who are
refusing to sell Zambian agricultural products,” said Guy Robinson, president of the Zambia National Farmers’ Union.
South Africa’s Shoprite group of companies is the largest food retailer Africa, with 846 outlets in 17 countries across the continent.
A survey by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA), a Johannesburg-based think-tank, conducted in nine African countries, including Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana, Egypt, Angola, Mali, Senegal and Kenya, found that 10 percent or less of the food in some stores was sourced locally.
“The widest criticism of the South African retailers is that they have established relatively few linkages to local business,” said Hany Besada, a researcher at the SAIIA’s ‘Business in Africa’ section. “Part of the problem is that the stores have a very stringent quality control process and the products that are sold off the shelves require capital intensive investments [which many African countries are unable to make].” Shoprite maintained that it supported local fruit and vegetable farmers in countries like Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Mauritius. “Progress has been made in sourcing local vegetables in most African countries. As far as fruit is concerned, the challenge for ... local suppliers in Africa is to develop existing and potential sources of subtropical fruit in order to increase [Shoprite’s] production”.
South African food retail outlets used allegations of “poor quality” and “lack of capacity to provide the required quantity” to justify turning down local producers, according to the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM), “which is false - they did not even try our produce before rejecting us,” claimed FUM director Benito Eliasi.
“We have very few options as to where we can sell our products, and this is why it absolutely does not make sense to bring in potatoes from South Africa for making chips [French fries], or bring in so many bananas, vegetables and tomatoes when we are growing plenty of these foodstuffs here”, Robinson commented.
Consumers also point out that it would make better business sense to sell local fresh produce, as people know the products. Imported food has sparked a public outcry against a number of retail outlets in Zambia.
“There are certain times when we just want to walk into a food outlet and buy a purely Zambian dish, or when we receive visitors from abroad and they want something totally Zambian - but you can’t find that in most of these food outlets,” said Mary Zulu, a government worker in the capital, Lusaka. Farmers have called for government intervention to protect local agriculture.
“Inasmuch as the government is fighting hard to promote agricultural development, we feel there should be measures put in place to ensure that only foodstuffs that we cannot produce locally, like apples, are imported, not things like chicken, beef, fish or pork,” said Muyunda Ililonga, president of the Consumers Association of Zambia.
“These are some of the trade imbalances that need to be checked as a matter of policy, to ensure that our local producers have a broader market to target for their products. It’s time government started promoting the interests of the local producers, instead of just offering incentives to foreign investors at the expense of local businesses. It should not be just a question of Zambian consumers buying, but also of Zambian suppliers selling their produce,” Ililonga added. (IRIN)
Date: q406
Labels: CAZ, FARMERS UNION OF MALAWI, GUY ROBINSON, MARKETING, SAIIA, SHOPRITE, ZNFU
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MTN, Zain Plc wary over sharing infrastructure in expansion schemes
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday August 12, 2008 [04:00]
MAJOR mobile phone companies in the country, MTN Zambia and Zain Zambia Plc have said sharing infrastructure in the rural expansion programmes will make it difficult for them to maintain quality assurance. And Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) director for economics and research Susan Mulikiti said the Authority is not mandated to compel mobile phone companies to share infrastructure in their rural expansion programmes.
Commenting on suggestions that mobile phone companies share infrastructure when rolling out their services to rural areas as doing so on a solo basis was taxing on the companies and to some extent unprofitable, MTN Zambia customer services manager Chimfwembe Mzyece said the mobile phone company stood ready to accomplish its countrywide expansion programme on its own.
"At the moment, we don't see any hindrance in infrastructure in pursuing our expansion to rural areas," Mzyece said in Lusaka last week during the CAZ organised public discussion on the Quality of Service in the ICT. "As we expand our network, we are mindful about quality assurance to our customers, and if we are to share the infrastructure it would be difficult for us to control that."
Zain Zambia Plc public relations manager, Bridget Nundwe who did not give an explicit answer on the matter, however said the country's leading mobile phone provider shared the view of MTN Zambia on the sharing of infrastructure in rural expansion programmes.
Nundwe also consented that it was quite taxing for Zain Zambia Plc to take mobile services to rural areas and that the situation had been exacerbated by the current power shortage in the country.
However, she said Zain Group was currently implementing the "One network" programme aimed at providing a borderless mobile phone services to all its subscribers who might be in different countries.
Earlier, Mulikiti said the mobile phone sector was liberalised and that CAZ could not compel companies to share infrastructure.
"Unless maybe we were in an environment where mobile phone companies were restricted to certain parts of the country...but currently all areas are fully liberalised," said Mulikiti.
Labels: CAZ, ITC, QUALITY ASSURANCE
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CAZ invites bids for fourth mobile phone provider
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thursday January 31, 2008 [03:00]
THE Communications Authority of Zambia has urged persons interested in bidding for the fourth national mobile cellular licence to purchase a complete set of bidding documents at K300 million from the authority. Communications Authority international and public relations officer Ngabo Nakonde announced yesterday in a press statement that the authority had issued invitations for eligible persons to bid for the fourth national mobile cellular licence.
Nakonde stated that bidders should submit a written application and make payment of a non-refunded fee of K300 million or equivalent of any freely convertible currency at the Bank of Zambia ruling exchange rate.
“Sealed bids from eligible bidders must be deposited at the office of controller on or before 14:00 hours Zambian time on Wednesday, 27th February, 2008 and must be accompanied by a refundable bid security of not less than two per cent of the bid offer,” Nakonde stated.
“Bids will be opened at 14:00 hours on Wednesday, 27th February, 2008 in the presence of bidders and their representatives who choose to attend in the board room at Communications Authority, head office,” stated Nakonde.
Labels: CAZ, ITC
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Sayifwanda calls for sanity in telecom sector
By Fridah Zinyama
Monday October 08, 2007 [04:00]
COMMUNICATIONS minister Sara Sayifwanda has called on the Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) to bring sanity to the telecommunication sector. During a board members workshop to assess the performance of CAZ and chart the way forward, Sayifwanda said a well regulated telecommunications sector could help to increase the country's revenue base.
"CAZ should be able to provide proper guidance for the current players in the sector and so that those planning to enter the sector find sanity," she said. "The telecommunications sector if well regulated is supposed to provide the much needed revenue for the country's development."
Sayifwanda challenged the participants to put in place measures that would lead to increase in revenue for the country.
"Government would like to see increased investment in this sector but this cannot happen if there is confusion in the sector," she said. "Information technology is important and Zambia needs to continue growing and more people having access to it.
"Communication plays a very important role in the country's development and if well regulated could allow for growth of telecommunication in the country."
Sayifwanda said Zambia was in a hurry to develop but it could not do so if there was no sanity in the communication sector.
Sayifwanda pledged support for any developmental plans that CAZ would initiate.
"But I should warn you that I will not accept any incompetence in the way you handle this very important sector," said Sayifwanda.
Labels: CAZ
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Mazabuka police arrest cotton association official
By Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Sunday August 26, 2007 [04:00]
Police in Mazabuka have arrested and detained the national chairman for the Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) and a named local high school teacher in connection with the alleged theft of K168 million belonging to Alliance Cotton Zambia Limited. Criminal investigations officer, Elijah Zyambo said in Mazabuka yesterday that investigations into the matter are progressing.
He said police have since managed to seize a number of properties believed to have been bought using the stolen funds.
Zyambo said preliminary investigations have established that the Cotton Association of Zambia chairman, Mweemba Malambo was contracted by Alliance Cotton, a ginning company to buy cotton seed which was earmarked for distribution to cotton farmers in readiness for the 2007/2008 farming season but the funds were instead pocketed.
Zyambo who declined to give further details for fear of jeopardizing investigations said details would be released once more recoveries were made.
Cotton Alliance country director, Patrick Nyumbu promised to issue a detailed report on the matter.
Meanwhile, DUNAVANT area manager, Charles Kashina said the arrest of Malambo would bring sanity to the cotton industry which had allegedly been infiltrated by dishonest members.
Labels: CAZ, CORRUPTION, COTTON
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Telecoms law is weak - CAZ
By Pride Bwalya and Florence Bupe
Thursday May 31, 2007 [04:02]
THE Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) has admitted that the telecommunications Act in its current form is not strong enough to protect consumers from exploitation by service providers. During a consumer awareness public forum in Monze, CAZ consumer affairs manager Katwamba Mwansa said the telecommunications Act was not effective enough to shield consumers from poor services and high tariffs from some telecommunication service providers.
"The telecommunications Act as it is does not provide CAZ with powers to effectively regulate tariffs and secure the interests of consumers," Mwansa said. "We are in the process of revising the Act, which is expected to be replaced by an ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) Act."
He said the revised Act would address issues of protecting consumer interests without disadvantaging service providers.
He charged that some service providers had been offering high tariffs but did not offer quality services.
"There are some service providers, especially in the mobile telecommunication sector, who are known to charge high tariffs without addressing the poor quality of services. With the new ICT Act, we will strive to see to it that such issues are addressed," he said. Mwansa further said CAZ was working in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Transport to ensure that rural communities were sensitised on ICT issues.
"We are working with the communications ministry to make sure that ICT development reaches every corner of the country, including rural communities. This will be facilitated through the universal access policy, which CAZ will use to provide funding for investment in ICTs," he said.
Mwansa also said CAZ was in the process of extending ICT support to learning and health institutions. And CAZ public relations officer Ngabo Nankonde has explained that the ICT Act would provide more powers to CAZ to be involved in tariff regulation.
Labels: CAZ, ICT
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