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| Christopher Yaluma |
Transport, Works, Supply, and Communications Minister Christopher
Yaluma today took to task management and staff at the Zambia
Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) over the
authority’s alleged failure to regulate the high tariffs and poor
service delivery by mobile service providers.
Mr. Yaluma charged that ZICTA has stood by and watched mobile
service providers exploit Zambians through high tariffs.
He said this when he visited ZICTA offices in Lusaka today.
He said ZICTA has not performed its regulatory role even when it
was aware of its responsibility of ensuring that quality services
were delivered to consumers.
Mr. Yaluma alleged that the authority has instead teamed up with
mobile service providers in exploiting the public.
He said as a communication regulatory authority, ZICTA should
adopt an aggressive approach in regulating mobile phone service
providers.
He has since instructed the authority to come up with a clear
strategy of how it plans to improve access to information and
communications technology, detailing the cost and benefits to
Zambians.
The minister observed that ZICTA’s previous strategies lacked a
clear roadmap, hence making it ineffective.
And ZICTA Board Chairperson Gertrude Akapelwa Euheni disclosed
that her authority will soon open an ICT centre of knowledge which
will train information technology personnel in order to improve ICT
innovations in the country.
Mrs. Euheni said lack of an ICT training centre has hindered the
levels of performance in the sector.
Meanwhile, ZICTA Director General Margaret Mudenda said the
authority will endeavour to provide the best service to Zambians.
ZANIS, UK Zambians