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| Lusaka, Zambia |
The Zambia Institute of Mass
Communication (ZAMCOM), in conjunction with PANOS Institute Southern Africa,
will soon embark on a project to train 2,000 journalists to monitor government
expenditure in the health and education sectors.
ZAMCOM Director Oliver Kanene
disclosed that the journalists will focus on how government funds on health and
education infrastructure were spent.
Mr. Kanene said the reporters, who
will all have to be based in Lusaka, will be empowered with smart phones that
will enable them to access information on how much money government was
spending on various projects in the two sectors.
He was speaking during a community
radio station information and communication technologies (ICTs) training
workshop for journalists in Lusaka today.
And Zambia Information and
Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Director for Legal and Regulatory
Affairs, Thomas Malama, said government and all members of the public play an
important role in positively exploiting ICT for the betterment of society.
Mr. Malama said it was important
for journalists to be acquainted with ICT as it was the most efficient
information delivery vehicle. He disclosed that ZICTA has so far embarked on a
project to put up towers in several areas to improve access to internet
services.
And PANOS Institute Southern
Africa Executive Director Lillian Kiefer explained that the workshop was meant
to enhance the ability of journalists in fulfilling their responsibilities
using ICT tools.
Ms. Kiefer said community radio
stations were an important tool in engaging government and communities on
various matters.
Lusakatimes.com