IICD supported programme: InfoDispatch - Zambia

Lusaka Times is an electronic news platform that allows all types of users to have an open discussion on the day to day current issues in Zambia. The idea that is powering Lusakatimes today was birthed in 1999 with the launch of Lusaka Information Dispatch. The project was funded by the IICD, who provided seed capital for the equipment and operational costs for a limited duration. However, the operational model for Information Dispatch proved too difficult to sustain at the time. In 2002 Information Dispatch suspended its operation after key members quit the group. In January 2007, the site was re-launched under the new URL address called lusakatimes.com a new operational model. Today Lusakatimes is run by a number of people distributed around the world, working in an open source type of structure, purely driven by hobby and ambition to provide Zambians around the world with current news content based on facts and not speculation. The added value to the commodity called news is the speed with which it is delivered to the readers and the community. Additionally, Lusakatimes also provides a platform for any Zambian who wants their article published, provided they take full ownership and responsibility of the content. The ability of the users to be able to read news and anonymously provide immediate feedback is something that is always highly valued from the Information Dispatch days. Lusakatimes.com was ranked as the most visited website in Zambia under traffic listing on Alex.

Lusaka Times is a completely independent run project.

To offer a communication platform for development communities who will be hosted under Lusakatimes.com  which is an online newsservice with an established brand of an autonomous virtual publisher.

The impact of the project is not known

From the original project team of 7 people of Info Dispatch 5 people have initiated Lusakatimes.com. They have formed a virtual team, because only 2 people are based in Zambia. The combination with the team is continued with ICT tools like e-mail and skype. They have found a way to sustain the project based on adverts and without donor based funding.