A South African consortium of companies, Edgy Nicollo Group, has shown interest in partnering with the Lusaka City Council in a pilot project to provide free wi-fi services to residents of
Lusaka.
Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba last week led a delegation of eight members from Edgy Nicollo Group, among them William Makgatho, the Technical Director and Gugulethu Gwamanda, the Project Director.
The delegation held talks with officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Amos Malupenga and Lusaka City Council officials led by the Town Clerk, Mr. Alex Mwansa, on their expression of interest to provide the service.
The Council will identify a service provider to help with the technical aspect of the project and once implemented, the Wi-Fi project will help the council brand its image, improve service provision and also enhance interaction with members of the public on the various services offered and on different issues affecting the community.
Mr. Malupenga said government appreciates initiatives such as the one being offered by Nicollo Group and hoped that it helps in creating an enabling environment for Councils to effectively and efficiently provide services to the general public.
“As government, these are the kind of projects we encourage because they keep councils in direct contact with people in the communities,” Mr. Malupenga said.
Mr. Mwamba said he bought into the idea when he was approached by officials from Edgy Nicollo Group; especially on the aspect that the consortium has so far partnered with three cities in South Africa, among them Ekurhuleni Municipality who already have a sister-to-sister understanding with the Lusaka City Council.
“I was particularly excited when I was approached by Edgy Nicollo Group and when they informed me that they have an understanding with the Lusaka City Council on a sister to sister basis and basing on what I have seen with what they have done with Ekurhuleni Municipality where service provision has been made so easy through the use of Wi-Fi; I decided to set up this appointment,” Mr. Mwamba said.
And Mr. Mwansa said he was impressed with the free Wi-Fi service project offer by Edgy Nicollo Group because of the wonderful benefits that it was promising and it will bring to the general public, especially the youth.
The Town Clerk said the free Wi-Fi service will also help the general public to electronically pay for various services provided by the local authority such as property rates, ground rent, business permits, fire certificates, marriage certificates, building plans, firearms, liquor and health permits e.g., restaurant operating licenses; among others.
The Council will identify hotspot zones such as parks and community centres across the city for Wi-Fi services to enable members of the public to interact with the council for efficient and effective public service delivery.
Wi-Fi is a term for types of wireless local area networks (WLAN) and is widely used in businesses, agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN.
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections.
Awesome. The more accessing the world at large the better. I think electricity 24-7 would be more welcome news though. Bundle costs for Internet access has been prohibitive though and what’s with these mobile companies sending non stop texts advertising… Annoying as heck.
WiFi powered by “Malasha” Lusaka style!!!
Ifintu ni lungula!!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote Zambia FORWARD!! Vote UPND!!
#Chagwamustfall!!
I thank you!!
There is no free lunch, so it is said. There must be something in for them of course and they are not telling us. Mr Mwamba has an idea, hence the excitement. The city father’s must tred carefully.
True, there is nothing for free. They might as well have provided the same free service in South Africa.
Next you will hear they have been allocated acres of land in Lusaka
Tell us the full corrupt story Emmanuel Mwamba aka katondo boys
Come on people! of course it is free (for the user) not the city council. They are offered a cheap rate by the company and wifi becomes a free city service for a limited amount a day per user. Many countries do this
Good initiative but the users must be ready for fraud through system hacking which is very common in developed countries where such services are provided freely. monies and information stolen free of charge from unsuspected fraudsters
Looks like this Emanuel Mwamba is smart and hard working. Lots of good stuff he is doing. If government were to change this August, let such High Commissioners carry on with such innovations. I think Zambia deserves better. We are supposed to be in the top 5 largest economies in Africa. As a true Zambian, I celebrate any form of development for our people. We have what it takes to be the best in Africa. I no longer what to be trapped in this politics madness that is going on, politics of insults and division. I choose peace and unity.
WIFI … VOTE WISELY???? YES VOTE WISELY MEANS…. VOTE FOR A WISE AND EXPERIENCED
PRESIDENT AND DONT EXPERIMENT WITH THE INEXPERIENCED. EL WITH BLESSING FROM THE POPE.
Emmanuel Mwamba stop corruption. You were fired by Sata for issuing national-wide license to Radio Phoenix and you don’t learn. You are in South Africa to identify investment opportunities and help Zambians to enter that market not the reverse of identifying opportunities in Zambia for South Africans to come and utilise. This is the job description of The South African High Commissioner to Zambia. Free things is the word we enjoy to hear as Zambians. Why not subsidise ZAMTEL, ZAMNET, MTN, AIRTEL who are ready in Zambia and offering the same services for them to offer them cheaply or free from the comfort of their homes or offices. Do you want these companies already in business to close down at the expense of your new South African friends?
@True Zambian, Are you normal??
Emmanuel Mwamba stop corruption. You were fired by Sata for issuing national-wide license to Radio Phoenix and you don’t learn. You are in South Africa to identify investment opportunities and help Zambians to enter that market not the reverse of identifying opportunities in Zambia for South Africans to come and utilise. This is the job description of The South African High Commissioner to Zambia. Free things is the word we enjoy to hear as Zambians. Why not subsidise ZAMTEL, ZAMNET, MTN, AIRTEL who are already in Zambia and offering the same services for them to offer them cheaply or free from the comfort of their homes or offices. Do you want these companies already in business to close down at the expense of your new South African friends?
provide it safely so that we shall be able to share pictures of pf maggots caught rigging..
Wrong heading.
What they mean is free Wi Fi to the lusaka city council web site, if they have one.
The money they will be spending each month for free wi fi can be used to clean up Lusaka which is the main need at the moment. Free wi fi can come later. I have free wi fi in the shopping centre where I go for shopping here. The Centre pays for it to the Internet Provider but we pay for it through shopping. No free lunch Bwana. This South African company will need to be paid and LCC will have to find a way to pay for it and residents will pay for it too.
So for the price of staying mute in RSA and not persueing any political ambitions …Mwamba’s deals will start to go through…surely do you need a foreign company to put these things its not like they will be pulling internet from RSA.
This whole venture smells of corruption. Even a kid can notice it. There is nothing for free. All businesses have one key objective only and that is to make money.
There are obviously other senior government officials invoked that will facilitate this move and get paid. The South Africans also get something out of it
Remember city council = land
Is Edgy Nicollo Group a city, like Lusaka? Curious, because they say they understand this from a sister to sister basis!
Oops, misread… They were referring to Ekhuruleni!
There is nothing like free internet, free wifi, free lunch, free donation. Someone is always paying through various means.
Oops, misread… They were referring to Ekhuruleni!
Wrong priorities. Let the city of Ekurureleni assist Lusaka city with its sanitation, urban planning and water reticulation. They city in SA provide the free wifi in public spaces such as parks and community centres, which both don’t exist in Lusaka. That is the starting point. Address these basic need before you can bring in the nice to have such as wifi