Major boost for Midlands

Tanaka Mahanya

MORE than 1 000 computers were donated to primary and secondary schools in the Midlands province.

Operators in the telecoms and postal industry donated funds into the Universal Service Fund (USF), which has facilitated the donation.

Among the schools which received the computers are Chirumhanzi, Gokwe, Zhombe, Kwekwe, Shurugwi, Mberengwa, Gweru and Zvishavane.

Speaking at the donation in Zhombe, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Jenfan Muswere, said the barriers to internet use for many included the shortage of resources to get online.

“While human development is necessary in dealing with digital inequity, alternative strategies to extend affordable access to communications are urgent.

“We simply cannot carry on doing things the way we have been doing and expect the exponential changes we require.

“Today, we have launched a number of community information centres in this province, which among other benefits, will hopefully extend that affordable access to communications,” he said.

He said technological forms of exclusion are a reality for significant segments of Zimbabwe’s population and digital exclusion deepens existing social exclusion.

“Despite the hype around smartphones connecting the poor, the digital divide between the poor and the rich remains significant.

“We still have an opportunity though to shape policy and accelerate changes to enable our people to improve their lives through the use of ICTs,” he said.