Vodafone Zambia and Ecobank Zambia have partnered to provide support valued at approximately US$50,000 to 250 students who will sell data bundles to the public.

Vodafone recently launched its 4G network data service and faces serious competition from rival service providers including MTN Zambia, Zamtel and Airtel.

As part of its youth employment promotion, the company has confirmed it has engaged students from seven higher learning institutions in Lusaka and the Copperbelt to serve as brand ambassadors.

The students are drawn from the University of Zambia (UNZA), Copperbelt University (CBU), University of Lusaka (UNILUS), Evelyn Hone College, The Zambia College of Accountancy Studies, NIPA and the Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practices (ZIBSIP).

The scheme will provide each brand ambassador with a credit facility of ZMK 2,000 to purchase data bundles from Vodafone at a discounted rate for resale purposes.

Vodafone Zambia CEO Lars Stork said the objective of the scheme is to build talent among the young people and up-skill them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs which he said is vital for the growth of the economy.

Stork said the brand ambassadors will be required to sell the connection and propagate the Vodafone brand, 4G LTE products and services within- and outside campus and act as liaison between Vodafone and the student community. "Vodafone is passionate about youth empowerment and this initiative is in response to the government's call of providing employment to 10.5% of unemployed Zambian youth population."

He added that Vodafone has so far employed 50 graduates under the graduate trainee programme on a permanent basis since its launch in June.

Ecobank Zambia managing director Kola Adeleke said the bank was happy to partner with Vodafone on the initiative.