Chitotela advises builders on ICT connectivity

MY MINISTRY will not certify any completed building that has no provision for easy installation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) connectivity, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, Ronald Chitotela has said.

Mr. Chitotela said such a decision was in line with President Edgar Lungu’s directive that all infrastructure should have provision for ICT connectivity. He said he had directed the department of public infrastructure in his ministry to ensure that all new designs for public infrastructure included provisions for ICT connectivity adding that his ministry would put in place a mechanism to ensure that all public infrastructure was fitted with ICT provisions. He said for existing buildings, variations should be done so that provisions for ICT are included and asked line ministries such as education and health to make variations to their buildings that were under construction to include ICT provisions. “I want to see all buildings with ICT provisions, if any building will be completed without provisions for ICT, my Ministry will not certify such a building,” Mr Chitotela added. Mr Chitotela however assured the nation that some new facilities under construction such as the General Hospital in Petuake, Chinsali and Nyimba already had ICT provisions. He said ICT was now a must in every society and that it was important that all buildings were fitted with ICT provisions. He said ICTs contribute indirectly to national development through its impact on social and economic sectors such as agriculture, health and education. On Sunday, June 24 2018, President Lungu directed Minister of Housing and Infrastructure to ensure that all infrastructure was fitted with provisions for ICT.