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It has left readers with countless questions on the efficacy of ICTs vis-à-vis rural development. Can ICTs develop a given rural community for instance Lupane rural? Are they necessary for the rural populace? And what factors are affecting the full adoption of ICTs by every individual in rural communities and how can these be alleviated?
Technological determinists believe that technology is the sole or prime cause of change in any society and has the ability to transform it at every level, be it individual, institutional or social. They say that new communication tools such as fixed and mobile phones, computers, internet, DVDs, satellite systems and solar panels inter alia, can drive a society towards development. However, social constructivists on the other hand dismiss this as a myth, arguing that in fact, social contexts give meaning to technologies. The latter also lament that when it comes to the impact of technology in society, what matters are social and political issues concerning the circumstances of production, modes of use, values, purposes, skills, choice, control and accessibility. They say these issues determine whether technology has an impact to foster development in the society or not.
Last week I visited Lupane and witnessed the level of development that is taking place there. For instance the Government complex which is under construction seems to be half way towards completion, so is Lupane State University. There are also plans to construct a dam. In villages surrounding Lupane business centre such as Mpofu, Shabulanyana and Masenyane stretching to Jotsholo, many villagers have solar panels and generators as sources of power for their radios and television sets.
Some just like in the cities have satellite systems. With these observations, I pondered on whether these ICTs are helping in facilitating the development that is under way at Lupane. Hence I thought of throwing my piece of mind pertaining to this issue by posing this question on whether ICTs can facilitate development in rural communities of Zimbabwe or not.
Development entails providing disadvantaged people the opportunity to realise and improve their knowledge and skills to utilise, sustain and improve the productivity of available resources within their environment in order to enhance the quality of their life and the society where they belong. Therefore it is my belief that ICTs can provide a panacea to under- development and marginalisation that is bedevilling most rural communities if they are properly employed to enhance the knowledge and skills of people which are salient in improving their standards of living.
Last week, Bulawayo was a hive of activity because of the trade fair. Therefore in tandem with this year’s theme, “investing locally and reaping globally”, ICTs can play a fundamental role in the inclusion of rural communities as grounds for investment since this investment is not only restricted to the urban centres.
The development that is needed in rural societies is for individuals to know how to use ICTs to access what and where.
Entrepreneurs can use some of the tools to order goods from distant places or supply their products to clients through the internet. For instance, Lupane Women Centre, although it is a non-profit making organisation, strikes deals with overseas clients using the internet and supplies them with the artifacts made by rural women. This can be emulated by rural entrepreneurs and they can get business ideas on the internet. Farmers can also get rich information pertaining to their discipline. Above all ICTs can also provide a forum for information dissemination and rural participation in the formulation of national policies which is good for a democracy.
With the advent of a new political dispensation brought by the Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2008, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) was established to administer all ICT programmes. The MICT strategic plan (2010- 2015) says the mission of the ministry is to “transform Zimbabwe into a knowledge-based society so as to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the world in order to stimulate and sustain economic growth through the systematic application and innovative use of ICTs.”
After GNU we witnessed the flooding of cheap imported cellular phones from Asia which enable users to also access radio channels. Due to the introduction of multiple foreign currencies, prices of Sim cards fell from as high as above $100 to as low as $2 and in some cases being offered for $1 or $1 for two. The major internet service providers (ISPs) in the country, Telecel and Econet which also offer mobile phone services, have recently provided the internet to mobile phones whose connection is relatively cheap. Individuals can at least be online using their cellphone, provided it has functions that allow that.
In rural areas, the adoption of ICTs seems to be on the rise as some people can access the internet through their mobile phones which are predominant because of the boosters that have been built by service providers at some rural points. They can also listen to and watch news from outside the country from their thatched huts just like the urban dwellers, a development that was rare in the past. This new development seems to be slowly bridging the digital divide that exists in the country between urban areas and rural communities. This digital gap is between those who have access to information and those who do not.
Mr Collen Nxumalo, the headman of Mpofu village in Lupane, flatly dismissed the importance of ICTs in rural areas by labelling them as “unnecessary and useless.”
“These new things that you are talking about are not necessary to us here in rural areas and they are useless because I don’t see their importance. What we want as rural communities are jobs, money and food to feed our families especially this year when we had poor harvests due to the inadequate rains,” he said.
It is shell-shocking and mind-boggling to hear such negative sentiments towards ICTs being uttered by a respected opinion leader. This shows the perceptions held by some rural people in terms of the insignificance of ICTs in transforming their livelihoods. So in such an environment, how then can ICTs be used to foster political, economic and social development?
Information is only one of many needs for rural areas. Of course e-mails are not a substitute for vaccines or grains, and so are satellites for employment and school fees. Therefore it is my belief that if technologies are to drive rural communities towards the envisaged change, there must be a certain level of improvement in people’s standards of living and security before this technology fosters development.
It is the prerogative of both the Government and other rural-based organisations to educate and conscientise individuals on the importance of adopting ICTs in improving their lives. Information is the key towards development, however the majority of rural people has not yet realised the necessity and importance of ICTs in spearheading development in their respective communities.
In September last year Econet Wireless launched a mobile money transfer service, Eco-Cash, which allows users to send and receive money using their mobile phones. This programme was introduced in October 2011 for the Lupane community through two agents; the Post Office and Free Serve Investment.
The task of these agents was to register people for this service. The number of subscribers as provided by Lupane Post Office is increasing. In January about 55 people were registered, 111 in February and 122 in March. This shows how people have realised the importance of this phenomenon in their lives. This is part and parcel of ICTs that I am talking about.
I applaud Econet for contributing towards efforts to bridge the digital divide between the urban and rural communities.
However, it is saddening to note that persistent gender and power inequalities still constitute a great stricture on how women can also utilise ICTs. Some women still need to get permission from their husbands before using some of the tools.
“I have not yet registered for Eco-Cash because I have to first get permission from my husband since he is the head of the family. I fear that if I get registered without notifying him this may in future raise problems in my marriage if I start receiving money,” said Mrs Ntombizodwa Tshuma (27) a villager in Daluka.
Mrs Tshuma also revealed that her husband joined Facebook because she allowed him although she is not part of it. He uses it to communicate with his brothers who are in the Diaspora. This is one instance among many that show a great need for the closure of gender divide especially in rural areas as most men restrict women in fully adopting certain communication tools. There are some instances where the husband in the family is the only one who owns a mobile phone.
Such a mentality has to be eradicated in the minds of most men as they still view their female counterparts as their property or objects that can be tossed to and fro. Forgive me dear reader for sounding more or like a feminist!
ICTs can indeed accelerate development in rural Zimbabwe but this will take place when the Government and other rural-based organisations play their roles. Therefore, I call upon the Government and network providers to channel efforts towards the improvement of infrastructure by building more boosters to resolve network problems in some places and also improve rural electrification although it is known that electricity is inadequate in the country. Telecentres can also be established at growth points for people to access the internet.
Computer studies have to be introduced at primary school to secondary level. However, because of the incessant challenge of inadequate electricity, the Government can provide rural schools with more solar panels and generators as alternative sources of power.
Adult literacy levels in rural Zimbabwe seem to be low; therefore educational facilities aimed at adults have to be championed, coupled with computer studies.
Rural-based NGOs should also chip in by conducting seminars for villagers, educating them on how to utilise these tools for development. Otherwise if these impediments are not eradicated, the dream of transforming Zimbabwe into an ICT hub will be a total fiasco!
* Emmanuel Ndlovu is in his final year of a Bachelor of Science Honours’ degree in Journalism and Media studies at Nust. He also writes for uMthunywa.
Online Reporter