LT 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 1998 as a casual
conversation between friends. In 1999, the idea was made manifest with
the launch of Lusaka Information Dispatch. The project was funded by
the Dutch 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 and 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. Our day to day news
content comes from known Zambian sources like Zambia Daily-Mail, Times
of Zambia, ZNBC and ZANIS. These are the giants whose shoulders we
stand on.
Our added value to the commodity called news is the speed with which
we deliver it to our readers and the community ,feeling and experience
we have created around the news content on our website.
Additionally, Lusakatimes also provides a platform for any Zambian
who want their article published, provided they take full ownership and
responsibility of the content.
The ability of our users to be able to read news and anonymously
provide immediate feedback is something we have always highly valued
from the Information Dispatch days. This is something we are committed
to honour as we move forward.
Lastly, Lusakatimes has no intention whatsoever of charging people
to access the content on our site. Our content is open source and free.
All our revenue is from advertising and the bulk of it goes towards
ensuring that we provide a web infrastructure that is fast, reliable,
99% available throughout the year and update up to date with the
current technological trends.