lumezi still not connected to the internet.

Lumezi South MP-elect has pledged to push […]

Lumezi South MP-elect has pledged to push for improved mobile network and internet connectivity in the constituency, particularly in valley areas where residents continue to face limited access to digital services.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Lumezi MP-elect Oliver Mwale said poor connectivity remained a major challenge during the recent election period, with internet services reportedly taking several days to stabilise.

“Networking was really bad, mostly internet. It wasn’t good,” he said.

He said although the poor network did not significantly disrupt the transmission of election results, as the process was completed within two days, communities in the valley continued to experience difficulties accessing reliable communication services.

“During the election period, the network was a challenge,” he said.

Mwale said some communities in the valley largely depend on Zamtel for mobile connectivity, but the service is limited and does not adequately provide internet access to households.

“The only network that we have is Zamtel,” he said, adding that the available service is mainly useful for calls and does not provide reliable internet connectivity.

He said households without Wi-Fi therefore have limited options for accessing the internet, creating challenges for residents who depend on digital services for communication and other activities.

Mwale also added that, the geographical position of the valley is partly responsible for the connectivity challenges.

“The geographical position of the valley is very low,” he said, explaining that the way network infrastructure is configured makes it difficult to provide adequate coverage in some parts of the area.

He said the issue had previously been raised with relevant stakeholders and that, following his election, he intends to renew efforts to attract more investment in telecommunications infrastructure.

“Now that i have been elected as the Member of Parliament for Lumezi South, I’ll make sure that I lobby for more network towers and erect them on the valley part,” he said.

Mwale also said increasing the number of network operators in the area could help improve coverage, pointing to the potential involvement of other operators.

He said improved connectivity would ensure that residents in the valley are not left behind as more services and economic activities increasingly depend on digital access.

Article by Karen Ngulube