Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati has signed a Statutory Instrument to reconstitute the composition of the ZICTA Board and clearly define its role and that of the ZICTA Director General.
Mr. Mutati says the reconstitution means the shape of the new ZICTA board will be different from the existing one and therefore, the existing one falls away as it has been dissolved.
“With this new Statutory Instrument, instead of having eight (8) institutions sitting on the ZICTA board, it will be reduced to only four and while the minister was mandated to appoint one person, he will be able to appoint five (5) individuals to sit on the board based on their knowledge and experience,” Mr. Mutati said.
He said the SI will be published in the government gazette and a new ZICTA board will be appointed in due course following the expansion of the institution’s mandate following the enactment of various pieces of legislation, including the cyber security and cyber crimes Act.
Mr. Mutati said the mandate of ZICTA has also been expanded following following the new licensing framework designed to among other things drive investment in the ICT sector focusing on broadband connectivity and ensuring that internet penetration exceeds the current levels at 57 percent and also to make Zambia a digital hub.
I hope this change will help in making ZICTA a properly working regulator. Up till now ZICTA never really monitored the mobile providers with regards to unreliable network coverage and performance. And CORRUPTION surely paid a major role in this failing.
The board is reduced to four, the minister will be able to appoint 5? What am I missing here?
Also, there is too much government involvement in boards and lack of independence in these boards.
Example is the so called independent broadcasting authority which follows executive order. UPND only made a new board which will be loyal to appointing authority.
ZICTA board blocked social media under control of PF,and now we are replacing that board with one favourable to UPND.
So the number of cadres sitting on the ZICTA board has been increased from 1 to 8 while the number of professionals has been reduced from 7 to 5. If there is a vote to be taken, cadres will have a upper hand.
It means more appointees so less independence
Why does the minister have to appoint five members. Five who will be sucking up to him? Rubberstamping board
Yeah I can see PF cadres are so used to appointees sucking up to the appointee. Well let me educate u dunderheads: Kk appointed nearly his entire Cabinet, did u see them suck up to him or they worked diligently? You see , that’s how shallow you all are. Thankyou
ZICTA has failed us. Who was responsible for shutting down the internet when we were about to kick out ECL? And why has the Board been very quiet about that? Now that they’re dissolved I expect answers from Mutati