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Tuesday, a stage which typifies and acknowledges the power of ICTs in the world today and Zimbabwe in particular.
Every second Tuesday of the month sees the chapter inviting speakers from across the spectrum of Zimbabweans society who represent a certain constituency in the country but whose work or field impacts on the life of the IT professionals.
The chapter’s chairperson, Joseph Muchena, contends that the IT sector’s importance to any country can never be over laboured given the ever growing demands on the IT professionals.
“As you saw this evening we had a presentation on stress management which was presented by Faith Ntabeni-Bhebe. We always seek to bring in people, who speak on issues that are relevant to the IT professionals and have an effect on their daily lives,
“Recently we had Rosemary Siyachitema, Executive Director of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) and we realised that we can influence decisions that not only affect the IT professional but society as a whole because there are issues of capacity that some organisations are not equipped to deal with. Taking the examples of the Nhava, Zivo laptops saga and other cheap imitations on the market, the consumer is the one who suffers,” said Mr Muchena.
The dollarisation of the economy and the subsequent return to growth of the Zimbabwean economy saw the ICT market being flooded with cheap imports resulting in the CSZ coming up with a special interest group that advises CCZ.
“This special interest group is thus currently waiting on a draft Bill on consumer protection sent to Parliament for debate so that they can add the views of the computer society and consumers are protected in light of some substandard services and products on the market right now,” said Mr Muchena.
To this end, Techno Talk saw it as relevant that we dedicate this week to the organisation born in 1974. The CSZ was founded with one objective, that of benefiting the computer industry and all people who work in it.
The society’s aims were to educate the general public on the use and development of Electronic Data Processing, today more widely known as Information Technology. It set itself up to bring people using computers together, to set up standards within the industry and to promote computers and their use in scientific and commercial environments.
The Society is administered by a National Council which meets every quarter to receive reports and make decisions regarding policy and control of society activities and on the day-to-day running of society business. The day-to- day business of the society is handled by the Chapter Committees and by the secretariat.
Two chapters are currently operational – being Harare and the recently resuscitated Bulawayo chapter which had gone down with the economy. The developments in the IT industry over the last two decades have meant that the CSZ has had to examine and update its position in light of these developments.
Some of the organisations aims include promoting knowledge to members of the Society and the general public with regard to the development and use of Information Technology as well as ensuring that, in the development of Information Technology systems, due and proper regard is paid to the rights and privileges of the general public among others.
The CSZ has been granted sole rights by the International Computer Driving Licence Foundation to administer the ICDL within Zimbabwe. This gives the CSZ a vehicle for promoting continued development and a formal, internationally recognised qualification for its members and the general public. ICDL is designed to help people at work and at home. It will confirm to potential employers that the person has a professional recognised, relevant and up-to-date qualification and it will assist in raising familiarity with the technology and its uses.
However, one is tempted to say the CSZ has not been very vocal or visible through public awareness campaigns and constant nagging of policymakers. Of course, the organisation’s priority is the industry it represents and the professionals who work in it like any industry has representative bodies, but the CSZ needs more visibility and relevance at a time when the country is striving to become the hub of ICTs in Africa.
They should spread their tentacles especially in the area of consumer protection, issues of dropped calls and fake products with popular brand names come to mind among a plethora of problems bedevilling our fledgling IT industry.
Mobile phone operators have been billing subscribers for dropped calls, thus charging for a service never rendered and CCZ has too much on its plate and needs assistance from organisations that are well equipped with talent like the CSZ.
Online Reporter