Disabled to benefit from ICT

Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to digital technologies by all citizens including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

In an interview on the sidelines of the commissioning of the Hwange Community Information Centre (CIC) on Thursday, Postal and Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe deputy director-general Mr Alfred Marisa said the expansion of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) would also benefit PWDs. “For Persons with disabilities there are many programmes that we are rolling out aimed at homes that house them such as Jairos Jiri, Emerald Hill and Kapota School for the Blind among others. So we target those and provide ICT equipment,” said Mr Marisa.

He said besides equipment, Potraz was also offering assistive software mostly targeted at the visually impaired. Mr Marisa said in response to Covid-19, Potraz has extended the gesture to include Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). In a speech which was read on his behalf by his Deputy Cde Dingilizwe Phuti, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government is playing an important part in ensuring equitable access to digital technologies by everyone including those in rural communities.

“As Government, we play a crucial role in shaping that transformation by ensuring equitable access to digital technologies by all citizens, including those in remote areas of the country. I therefore, would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm Government’s commitment to addressing and reducing the barriers to technology and the digital divide through participatory policies and programmess that include groups and areas which remain marginalized and excluded from the benefits of digitalization. My Ministry will, through Potraz and other industry players, continue to rollout programmes aimed at ensuring that the rural communities are kept abreast of technological development, especially now when we all need to be kept informed of the different aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr Muswere.

He said the Government was committed to building a knowledge-based economy.

“Information and Communication Technology is the driving force behind today’s digital economy. As Government one of our key objectives is to build a knowledge-based economy, where knowledge, creativity and innovation will play an important role in generating and sustaining economic growth. We are therefore, fully committed to providing stakeholders with opportunities to develop the sector and to make ICTs one of the key pillars of the economy.”

Meanwhile, Chief Whange expressed gratitude to the Government for commissioning the centre, adding that it would go a long way in bridging the information divide among people in the area.