‘ICT crucial in managing spread of Covid-19’

Rutendo Rori

Mashonaland East Correspondent

Government, through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services is working towards rolling out more communications infrastructure and ICT services throughout the country to enable people to work from home and help to manage the spread of Covid-19.

This was said by the ICT Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, during a strategic plan development workshop in Macheke last week. He said the move will enable every citizen to access Government’s content.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a new normal to the way we work as Government and private sector,” said Dr Muswere. “Social distancing demands that we work from home and not our offices. The Ministry of ICT becomes a conduit and platform to enable government manage the spread of Covid-19.

“We are expected to expand countrywide our communications infrastructure and ICT services to enable people work from home.”

Minister Muswere said his ministry was working towards supporting the devolution agenda, through the use of information technology.

“We are also bearing in mind the devolution agenda,” he said.

“We are considering projects in all our provinces, which will enable the use of ICTs in supporting devolution.”

Mitigatory measures put in place to contain the spread of the virus have seen a larger group of the working population being told to work from home and making themselves useful through technology with meetings being held virtually.