04/06/2026
APPRECIATION REMARKS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ZAMBIA LIBRARY, CULTURAL AND SKILLS CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ON THE OCCASION OF THE HANDOVER OF INTERNET CONNECTIVITY BY ZAMTEL
4TH JUNE 2026
The Guest of Honour,
Representatives from Zamtel,
Representatives of the Lions Club,
Officials from Government Ministries and Departments,
Members of the Board and Management,
Cooperating Partners,
Members of Staff,
Students and Beneficiaries,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning.
It is with immense gratitude, joy and optimism that I stand before you today on behalf of the Zambia Library, Cultural and Skills Center for the Visually Impaired to receive this valuable internet connectivity support from Zamtel.
Allow me, at the outset, to express our sincere appreciation to Zamtel for this remarkable gesture. Your decision to provide internet connectivity to our institution demonstrates your commitment to digital inclusion, corporate social responsibility and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. This support comes at a time when access to information and communication technologies has become indispensable for education, employment, communication and participation in society.
I would also like to pay special tribute to the Lions Club for their unwavering support and continued collaboration with our institution over the years. The Lions Club has consistently demonstrated its commitment to improving the lives of persons with visual impairments through various interventions and acts of generosity. Your partnership has contributed significantly to the growth and development of our institution and the welfare of the students and beneficiaries we serve.
Today’s event is yet another demonstration of what can be achieved when organizations with a shared vision come together to support vulnerable members of society. We are deeply grateful for the friendship, trust and collaboration that exist between the Lions Club and our Center, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership even further in the years ahead.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As an institution mandated to provide rehabilitation, education, skills development and library services to persons with visual impairments, we recognize that connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity. The support we are receiving today will significantly transform the manner in which we deliver our services and interact with the world.
Through this connectivity, our students and library users will gain improved access to educational materials, online learning platforms, research resources and digital libraries from across the globe. Our learners will be be able to access information in accessible formats, communicate more effectively and acquire digital skills that are increasingly demanded in today’s labour market.
The connectivity will further enhance our Information and Communication Technology training programmes, enabling our students to learn and utilize assistive technologies such as screen-reading software, accessible educational applications and online collaborative tools. It will also strengthen the operations of our electronic library, thereby expanding access to knowledge for visually impaired persons who depend on accessible information resources.
Additionally, this support will facilitate communication and networking with local and international partners, improve administrative efficiency, support online meetings and training programmes, and create opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment among our beneficiaries.
The internet connectivity will also support our efforts to promote inclusive education, distance learning, research, advocacy and access to government and public services that are increasingly being delivered through digital platforms. This intervention therefore contributes directly to reducing barriers faced by persons with visual impairments and advancing their social and economic inclusion.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The significance of digital inclusion for persons with disabilities cannot be overstated. Access to the internet helps bridge the information gap, reduces social exclusion and creates equal opportunities for participation in education, employment and community life. By supporting this initiative, Zamtel and its partners are helping to build a more inclusive Zambia where no one is left behind.
While we celebrate this important milestone, we remain faced with several challenges that limit our ability to fully harness the opportunities presented by digital technology. Connectivity alone cannot achieve its intended impact without adequate equipment and assistive technologies.
It is therefore our humble appeal to Zamtel, the Lions Club and other cooperating partners to consider extending their support to the Center through the provision of computers, laptops, braille embossers, braille displays, scanners, talking calculators, digital recorders, white canes, refreshable braille devices, accessible software licences and other assistive technologies.
The demand for ICT and digital literacy training among our students continues to increase, yet the available equipment remains inadequate to meet this demand. Additional computers and assistive devices would enable more visually impaired persons to acquire essential digital skills, access online educational opportunities, participate in the digital economy and compete effectively in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Such support would not only improve educational outcomes but would also contribute to employment creation, entrepreneurship, self-reliance and poverty reduction among persons with visual impairments. It would empower our beneficiaries to become productive citizens capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.
As we receive this support today, I wish to assure Zamtel, the Lions Club and all our cooperating partners that the connectivity and any future support will be utilized responsibly, transparently and effectively for the benefit of our students, staff and the wider visually impaired community that we serve.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, Staff, Students and all beneficiaries of the Zambia Library, Cultural and Skills Center for the Visually Impaired, I once again extend our heartfelt appreciation to Zamtel for this generous contribution and to the Lions Club for its continued partnership and dedication to improving the lives of persons with visual impairments.
We look forward to strengthening these partnerships and working together towards a future where every person with a visual impairment has equal access to information, education, technology and opportunities for personal and economic advancement.
May God bless Zamtel.
May God bless the Lions Club.
May God bless all our cooperating partners.
May God bless the Zambia Library, Cultural and Skills Center for the Visually Impaired.
May God bless the Republic of Zambia.
I thank you.