The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has empowered 127 people in Mbala with community payphones to use for communication and business.
And Acting Mbala District Administrative Officer, Frederick Chilambwe has cautioned the beneficiaries against the misuse of the community payphones provided by ZICTA courtesy of Airtel Zambia.
Speaking when he presented the payphones to the beneficiaries at Mbala community hall yesterday, Mr. Chilambwe said if put to good use, the payphones can help the recipients come out of poverty.
He said government has provided the community payphones to the identified vulnerable beneficiaries to use for communication and economic venture in order to reduce poverty at the household level.
And speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Delphine Ndalama of New Location thanked government for empowering them with the payphones and assured that the facilities will be put to good use.
Mrs. Ndalama said as vulnerable members of the Mbala community their lives will not be the same because they will use the payphones for economic venture to raise some money for their survival.
With so many people owning a mobile phone, I hope it will not be a useless venture!
a white elephant business venture if you ask me
What’s point our colleagues in East Africa are empowering their people with versatile mobile technology like mobile money transfers like Mpesa for payments, weather forcasting etc…we are still stuck with tomorrow’s useless technology; payphones…truly laughable.
Jay Jay, your thoughts are wrong somewhat. The assumption you have made is that 100% of Zambia population owns a cell phone. It is not a true picture. For those without cell phones, they can rely on a Pay Phone for communication. As a matter of fact, we need a lot of these Pay Phones in places like Hospitals, and Bus Stations among others. One Zambia One Nation.