![\"brass](\"http:\/\/www.connectafrica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Francois-Brass-Band.jpg\" "\\"Brass")
<\/a>This allowed me time to recharge everything and upload some videos<\/a> and photos<\/a> with the better 3G connection I had in the office. And it gave the rest of the team time to explore the market nearby and see the brass band march down the main street of Mumbwa.<\/p>\n[PHOTO: The passing Brass Band, photo courtesy of Francois Hayden.]<\/p>\n
Besides electricity or some form of power to charge phones, laptops and cameras, there is also the challenge in rural Africa of finding those elusive few bars showing that you are in reach of a network, and can become \u201cconnected\u201d.<\/p>\n
At least with travelling around the region, we got moments of connectivity.\u00a0 For example, Dion was leaving Lusaka that day and heading to the Shakumbila Palace to join us, and the only directions he had included pointers like \u201cwhen you reach that town, find the local bar and then ask someone to show you which road leads to the Chief\u201d and specificity like \u201cdrive along for 10 to 16 km, and then ask for directions to the gravel road that leads to the Palace\u201d.<\/p>\n
So as we were driving along through some patches of connectivity, finding our way with our navigator Prince Lloyd to meet Senior Chief Shakumbila, I was relaying more specifics via Wassup to Dion. And in between I had an indepth and fascinating conversation about leadership with Headsman Mutapwe of Chiefdom Moono, who we were giving a lift to (but that\u2019s another blog post for later).<\/p>\n
For the last few days of our expedition, I found connectivity by walking around the Shakumbila Palace looking for that sweet spot, holding the modem and laptop in one hand, \u00a0typing with one finger, while my new friends Lilian (the Chief\u2019s secretary) and Moses (his son) and their other young friends looked over my shoulder, watching me upload my blogs and join me in my dance around the Palace with that elusive connection.<\/p>\n
I now empathise even more with the rural communities of Africa saying that they need more coverage, better roads and electricity.\u00a0 With us having mobility, generators, portable solar panels, car battery chargers etc and even access to offices with electricity, we still found it a challenge to use the technology we had.<\/p>\n
And, I also salute the Connect Africa Team for their committed and passionate efforts to connect rural Africa.<\/p>\n [PHOTO: Solar panel at a farm in Moono Cheifdom<\/a>]<\/p>\n (PS- see\u00a0more photos here<\/a>\u00a0of our Palace Expedition)<\/p>\n Written by Telana Simpson We experienced the connectivity challenges of rural Zambia first hand. We\u2019d left Lusaka just three days ago, and now all our batteries were flat, or flashing red.\u00a0 We\u2019d come prepared as we could – knowing this eventuality would occur – … Continue reading ![\"solar](\"http:\/\/www.connectafrica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/farm-solar-panel-168x300.jpg\" "\\"Solar")
<\/a>So I take my hat off to those creative people who are finding ingenious ways to charge their phones: some walking for miles to find a battery or power point; or saving up for solar panels to charge old car batteries; or even paying to put their sim card into someone else\u2019s phone to send a sms.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Date of visit to Regional Office: \u00a0Friday 26 July 2012
\nConnectivity sponsored by\u00a0MTN Zambia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"