SIACHILABA & SIANZYUNDU EXTENSIONS Tonga.Online are happy to report the safe arrival and successful installation and networking of computers at Syanzyundu Secondary School and Siachilaba Primary School. All activities went according to plan, with the computers arriving with Stefan Kuthan, Bert Estl and Dr Gary Brooking of Arachnid and his team, on Mon 03 May.
Work started immediately, and by the following day, the previously dusty storeroom at the secondary school was transformed into a centre of learning – the Syanzyundu ITC - with 12 computers networked together with a printer.
Thanks to the timely hook-up by ZESA Binga, electricity was made available at Siachilaba just in time for the installations there, and 4 computers were set up on Tue 04 May, immediately after the hook-up. Some minor electrical problems are still being experienced, and corrective work is underway. Dr Brooking and his team also found time to attend to some cleaning and servicing at the Binga ITC.
From 06-13 May, a Networking and Multimedia workshop was carried out at the new Syanzyundu ITC by AZFA representatives Stefan Kuthan and Bert Estl, which covered the following topics: Networking, HTML principles, design and creation of a website, digital photography, working with images, printing and print control, and AlphaSmart applications. Participants included teachers from Binga High, Siachilaba Primary and Syanzyundu Secondary schools, as well as members of the Tonga.Online team in Binga.
Management committees and security arrangements are all in place, and the project is now moving into an intensive training programme, to accommodate the many teachers, students and communities of the new ITCs, who are all first-time users.

SPECIAL THANKS to Mr Nyoni of ZESA Binga and ZESA REA’s Emmanuel Sabawu, for their timely work to electrify Siachilaba; to Eddie Magora of EM Engineering, for his donation of extra work for burglar bars/security; Max of Mlibizi Hotel for donation of computer covers at Syanzyundu, and great cooperation for workshop accommodation; Dulux Ltd and Belmont Construction for paint, Hunyani Corrugated Products for computer boxes, Swift for free freight for over 400kg of computers; Wendi Brooking for hosting our Austrian visitors in Bulawayo; Elizabeth Markham and Ntengwe for accommodation in Binga; Mr Steve Chihata of Encore Budget Hotel, for hosting the visitors in Vic Falls; Mr Phanuel Jambawo of Siachilaba Store for assisting and accommodating the project for training in Siachilaba; Binga Hardware for free transport of donated materials from Harare. Thanks to Godfrey Vera and all at Binga Spar for their cooperation, and the local community in general, for their support.

ZIMBABWE / ZAMBIA VISIT The Tonga.Online team accompanied by Chief Siachilaba, visited Chief Sinazongwe in Zambia in April to locate and invite a ngoma buntibe group for the official opening of the two ITCs in September. Zambia was warm and welcoming, and we were honoured by Chief Sinazongwe at his Maligo Palace in Sinazongwe, who accepted the invitation on behalf of his group, Maligo, who number around 80 musicians/dancers. The group will travel across the waters to Binga, by road to Siachilaba, and be hosted by the Siachilaba community. Special thanks to ZRP Binga and Mr F Mambizvo and his staff of the Lake Navigation Department for their clearance, excellent guidance and cooperation for the trip. Particular thanks to Marianne Andersen of Batonga Museum for providing road transport on the Zambian side.

Penny Yon /Tonga.Online

Kunzwana Trust
TONGA.ONLINE PROJECT - www.mulonga.net
c/o Binga High School, P Bag 5722, Binga
Tel 015-573
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