Click Here & Upgrade PDF Complete Expanded Features Unlimited Pages Documents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The gap between the rich and poor nations and between certain groups within a country is a result of several factors. One such factor in inequitable access to resources among the citizenry and lack of technology to exploit the vast natural resources available in most countries. One fundamental difference between the developed and the developing countries is that the former are also rich in information and has a well informed citizenry which is able to adapt quickly to changing social and economic environments, hence utilizing opportunities to overcome development challenges such as poverty. In this regard, information is treated as a commodity which has potential to make significant changes in many aspects of our social and economic development. ICTs can be used to bridge the digital divide within the context of globalization. The digital divide presents barriers by denying an opportunity for the people to take best practices and make them applicable in the possible ways. Zambia has the opportunity to make a difference by adopting and using ICT as a tool available to reduce the development divide thereby increasing the chances of improving the quality of life of the citizens. ICT is an enabler to build an information centered society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge leading to greater productivity, greater competitiveness and sustainable economic growth, a precondition for poverty reduction. ICTs can also be used as an effective tool in enhancing good governance. 1.1 GLOBAL AND REGIONAL TRENDS AND COMMITMENTS The developments in telecommunications and information technologies have improved and increased the connectivity between and within countries thereby removing barrier of time and spatial separation. This in turn has resulted in increased integration of markets, improved commerce and geo-political relations. At global and regional level, a number of initiatives aimed at increasing the development and use of ICTs have been developed. The major drivers include the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, the Universal Postal Union, the African Union and its specialized agencies such as the African Telecommunications Union, and the Pan African Postal Union, regional economic groupings such as the New Partnership for Africa s Development, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Southern Africa Development Community. Zambia has participated in a number of global and regional events that are focusing on ICTs as a tool for sustainable growth and development. Among the notable ones being the Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action from the World Summit on the Information Society and the NEPAD E-Africa Commission. Further the country is committed to the Millelium Development Goals and it is envisaged that ICTs can be harnessed to the achievement of these goals namely:i) Ii) Iii) The eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; Achievement of universal primary education; Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women; 1