Mission Statement

OpenSourceZambia exists to promote the knowledge and use of open source software in Zambia.

Open source software presents many benefits to users, from the low cost of acquisition (it is typically given away free), to the security advantages of having the source code available, to the fact that those with the interest can develop their skill in information technology by using it. In a developing country, all of these aspects are crucial advantages of open source software over proprietary alternatives.

More than that, the open source way represents a collaborative, generous and community-oriented way to get things done, and this software development methodology is carried over into how people learn and interact. OpenSourceZambia aims to become a focus, in Zambia, for developing the community of people interested in the benefits of technology for themselves, and for encouraging the international open source community to assist in the advancement of open source software in Zambia.

Membership

Membership of this website and of OpenSourceZambia (note that these are two different types of membership) is free and open to anyone. At present anonymous users are also allowed to edit the website.

Membership of the website is obtained by registering a username and password on UserPreferences. That gives you an identity when you edit pages and allows a bit more customisation of the website. It also allows you to subscribe to pages in the wiki, so that you receive email whenever any of those pages change (to subscribe, go to UserPreferences while logged in and type the name of the page, like OpenSourceZambia, into the"Subscribed wiki pages" box - or put in .* to subscribe to every page in the wiki). Website members are listed on page WebsiteMembers.

Membership of OpenSourceZambia is achieved by creating a home page with some relevant information on it and adding that page to category CategoryHomepage. Pages that, in the opinion of members of the committee, do not contain enough information about you will be removed from CategoryHomepage. You can revoke your membership of OpenSourceZambia at any time by removing your homepage from the CategoryHomepage.

A further level of membership is to join the CommitteeGroup. See the page CommitteeGroup for information about how to join the committee.

Only people specifically authorised by members of the CommitteeGroup, in writing, to act in the name of OpenSourceZambia (for example in the procurement of goods or services) may do so.

Terms and Conditions

Copyright

Copyright and licensing issues are discussed at WikiLicense. Roughly, copyright on contributions belongs to the wiki unless otherwise noted on the page in question.

Privacy

We are not interested in abusing your privacy, and will therefore not use your information given to us in confidence (such as login details or your email address). In particular, we will never release your private information to a third party.

Disclaimer

This complete website which includes text, images, links, downloads and coding, is provided "as is" and "as available". The website owner makes no representations or warranties, express or implied as to the correctness or suitability of either the website or the information contained in it.

Open Source Zambia and its members shall not be held liable for any damages, loss or liability whatsoever incurred or arising by users or any other persons and resulting from the use or inability to use this web site.

To the fullest extent possible under the applicable law, the web site owner disclaims all responsibility or liability for any damages, including but not limited to direct/indirect, economic, consequential loss or loss of profits, resulting from the use of this site in any manner.

The web site owner has no control over third party content and any material which can be accessed through the use of this web site and does not examine or edit such content and features or act as an agent for third parties accessible through this web site, and as such, to the fullest possible extent permissible under law the web site owner disclaims any liability whatsoever nature for any loss or damage arising from the use of third party web sites, its contents and features.

Indemnity

All users to the website agree to indemnify and hold harmless the website owner or members, its employees, ISP, owners, servants, sub-contractors, partners, subsidiaries and affiliates from any demand, actions or application, or other proceedings, including all attorneys fees and any related costs thereof, made by any third party and arising out of or in connection with the any users of this website, third party web sites or any of the services offered through such site in any way, including but not limited to the provision of content.

Correspondence

All correspondence sent to this website by users, including e-mail messages, shall be deemed to have been received only when acknowledged or responded to by this web site.

Correspondence should be sent to Robert Schumann, Magdalen College, Oxford, OX 14AU, United Kingdom or Teddy Nyambe, National Assembly of Zambia, Box 31299, Lusaka, Zambia.

The web site owner reserves the right not to respond to any correspondence whereby the correspondence contains malicious, obscene, threatening, defamatory or otherwise illegal, unlawful or inappropriate content, and to take the appropriate action against the sender of such correspondence where necessary.