By FRANCINA CHOMBA –
THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has embarked on a number of projects to equip learning institutions and public access centres, in the major Zampost offices across the country with assistive devices such as Braille printers.
Director-general Margaret Mudenda said this in the speech read for her by the director support services Mofya Chisala at the official opening of an e-Accessibility workshop for persons with disabilities in Ndola.
She said ZICTA is setting up communication centers in all Zamtel offices to ensure that access to information and Communication Technology (ICT) is made available to everyone.
Ms Mudenda said the physically challenged are consumers of various ICT products and services because they are an integral part of the socio-economic development of the country, hence they must not be marginalised by lack of access to ICTs.
“Industry and Government need to understand that people who are physically disabled not only need to be included but have a right to be included in the new technological achievements and advances taking place in the world today,” she said.
She said that ZICTA was willing to work with so many organisations to support the physically challenged and make Zambia a better place to stay.
ZICTA has also extended its hand to ensure that access to communication technology is achieved by all, including people with disabilities through donations of IT equipment.