The Zambia National Union of Teachers has today signed a memorandum of understand with Zambia’s largest mobile network provider Airtel.

The MOU which was signed at Airtel House in Lusaka will allow members of ZANUT to purchase smart phones and tablets from Airtel and pay for them in a period of 6-24 months at zero interest.

Speaking when he officiated at the signing ceremony deputy minister in the ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Patrick Ngoma said the MOU couldn’t have come at a better time as the ministry is undergoing transformations in service delivery.

He noted the need for teachers to be equipped with technology which can be transformed into creativity hence becoming a basis for wealth creation and healthy human development adding that the importance of technology in skills development can not be over emphasized.

“Good results alone at the end of each year do not reflect the true development of our scholars and teacher, unless we equip them with technology which can be transformed into creativity which will in turn become the basis for wealth creation and healthy human development”.

“It is important that skills development and technology become an integral part of teaching and learning which will in turn lead Zambia to development”. Mr Ngoma said.

He said the partnership will enhance service delivery in the education sector as Airtel intends to develop products for ZANUT members which teachers even from remote areas of the country can use.

And Airtel managing director Charity Lumpa observed the important role teachers play in the development of society.

She said as major stakeholders in the country’s economy there is need to accord teachers with the necessary tools to assist them in their knowledge management and its dissemination.

“Teachers are key to Zambia’s attainment of vision 2030 which seeks to transform the country the country into a middle income prosperous nation. Teachers are therefore major stakeholders in the economy who should be accorded the necessary tools to assist them in their knowledge management and dissemination”. Ms Lumpa said.

She added that the facility will be handy to the teachers especially those in rural areas as they will be able to access reading materials and other tools using the smart phones and tablets.

Meanwhile ZANUT vice president Roy Mwaba said the technology will be useful to teachers and that it will enhance their study ability as well as ease the communication challenges between the union and its members.

Over 45,000 ZANUT members are eligible to access the facility.

Veteran politician Vernon Mwanga has called on the ruling Patriotic Front PF government to stop trivializing the constitution making process and give the people the document as promised in their party manifesto.

Mr Mwanga who served as minister in a number of ministries under the two previous governments of MMD and UNIP said the issue of the constitution is non negotiable and that the PF should stop frustrating the process so that the country can have a constitution which they have been waiting for a long time.

The veteran politician observed that what the country needs is a good constitution which would protect everyone in the country as opposed to having a good president while some sectors of society are not protected.

He said 11years after the process was started by the Mung’omba commission in 2003 people continue to wait for the document hence the PF should not stand in the way of the people’s wishes but instead call for dialogue with stakeholders and discuss the road map acceptable to all.

He said there is need to finalize the process before 2015 so that the country can hold the 2016 elections under a new constitution further wondering what is stopping government from completing the process when the final draft has been ready since last year.

“It is a clear indication that there is national frustration about the constitution making process which is being trivialized by the government at the present moment”.

“The country does not need a good president, the country needs a good constitution to protect all the citizens all the time and I think that really the best way to go is for the government to have dialogue with the opposition political parties, the NGOs and the church mother bodies to map out the way forward and agree on a road map which will be generally acceptable among all the stakeholders”. Mr Mwanga said.

Speaking in an interview FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi said the police should not prevent Mr Hichilema from holding meetings as it is his democratic right to meet who ever he wants to meet.

Mr Chipenzi said there is need for the police to stop intimidating people especially those from the opposition in the country and give them enough freedom to meet their members were ever they want to meet them.

[pullquote]Police in riot gear fired teargas canisters to disperse a crowd of UPND supporters who were waiting to be addressed by Mr Hichilema[/pullquote]

“The police are arguing that there are some pending by elections in some parts of the province that’s why the public meetings can not go ahead but indoor meetings should not be affected by the public order act because they are just like any other indoor meetings”. Mr Chipenzi noted.

He further called on the police to understand the role of the opposition in a democracy so that they can perform their duties professionally without infringing on people’s rights.

“If the police can not understand the role of the opposition in a democracy then it becomes a very big problem”. He observed.

Meanwhile veteran politician Vernon Mwanga has expressed disappointment with the continued misapplication of the public order act by the Zambia Police Service.

Mr Mwanga said it is disappointing to see the police use the law which was used during the one party state which required political parties and civil society organisations to have permits when holding meetings when the law was amended so that the police can only be notified.

“At the moment the requirement is to notify the police and not to have a permit but I continue to see that this party or that party has been denied a permit, there is no requirement in the current act for a permit to be obtained that’s why am disappointed with the way the police are applying the public order act”. Mr Mwanga said.

The duo were commenting on reports that the police have been blocking UPND president Hakainde Hichilema from having meetings in Eastern Province were he has gone for a series of meetings.

This action has led to Mr Hichilema and his entourage to cut short the stay in province.
The police officers in Eastern Province were instructed to by the provincial command to ensure that the UPND president was escorted briefly to Lusaka so as to ensure that he leaves the province.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Grace Chipalila confirmed the departure of Mr Hichilema in Eastern Province.

Ms Chipalila denied earlier giving a go ahead of notification to UPND to holg meetings.

“I don’t know who gave him that notification of a go ahead to continue holding meetings in Eastern Province but as far as I am concerned the police command we didn’t grant the UPND,”Ms Chipalila said.

But UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa accused Zambia Police Service of following the instructions from the ruling part.

“Police have continued to be led in a cadre type by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. It is high time for police to show maturity by respecting all political parties and leave in a noble proffession,”Mr Mweetwa said.

He said police should promote integrity instead of violation and disrespect to the human rights of the Zambian people by applying the law accordingly.

On Monday, police in riot gear fired teargas canisters to disperse a crowd of UPND supporters who were waiting to be addressed by Mr Hichilema in Mambwe District.On Sunday police stopped a public meeting which was being addressed by Mr Hichilema in the same district.