Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Zimpapers Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has handed over 8 000 Starlink connectivity kits to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as part of efforts to expand Internet access to schools and accelerate Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Harare, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera said the initiative was a strategic intervention aimed at addressing long-standing connectivity gaps in the education sector, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
“This handover marks a critical milestone in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda,” she said.
“It is not merely a ceremonial exchange of equipment, but a deliberate intervention to build an inclusive, digitally empowered education system that leaves no learner behind.”
The kits were handed over to Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo under a strategic partnership between the two ministries.
The programme is aligned to the Government’s Vision 2030, which prioritises the integration of digital technologies across key sectors of the economy.
Minister Mavetera said limited connectivity had for years restricted access to digital learning resources for schools without fibre infrastructure or reliable mobile network coverage, effectively isolating them from the global knowledge economy.
“For too long, geography has determined opportunity. Through satellite-based connectivity, that barrier is now being dismantled,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said the Starlink kits would enable schools to access online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, digital libraries and teacher training resources in real time, regardless of location.
“In practical terms, these kits will bring the world into the classroom, whether that classroom is in urban Harare or in the most remote district,” she said.
She said there was a need for accountability and measurable outcomes and the deployment of the equipment must translate into improved learner performance and enhanced teaching methods.
“We must ensure impact, value for money and accountability. It is important to evaluate whether connectivity is improving pass rates, digital literacy levels and teaching effectiveness,” she said.
Minister Mavetera said the initiative formed part of the broader national digital transformation drive, which seeks to produce digitally skilled citizens capable of contributing to economic growth, innovation and competitiveness in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Government expects the programme to significantly improve access to quality digital education across the country while strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation in the delivery of public services.
