Zambia’s largest mobile services provider, Airtel Zambia, has announced that it has donated Android mobile phones to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) through the office of the vice president, with the phones to be used for communication during disasters in rainy season.
Airtel Zambia Managing Director, Fayaz King, said the donation was aimed at ensuring effective communication during operations by the DMMU.
King presented the donated Android mobile phones to Zambia’s vice president, Guy Scott, in Lusaka. Fayaz further explained that the phones came with talk time, internet bundles and access to the internet courtesy of Airtel Zambia. They also come equipped with a camera and Google earth application to assist in disaster situations.
He explained that the mobile phones will provide “a versatile communication tool because of its unique features such as Google applications and internet, among others”.
Scott praised Airtel for the gesture and expressed hope that the mobile phones will be put to good use by the DMMU. He further encouraged other companies in the southern African country to contribute to the welfare of the country’s citizens.
DMMU National coordinator Patrick Kangwa said his unit had already started working on drainages in preparation for this year’s rainy season throughout the country.
The Zambian government has already issued notices to people living in flood prone areas to leave before the rains start, saying that the government will not be held responsible if they are in danger once disaster strikes.
