Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma in Nyele
THE Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has trained more than 500 villagers from Bulilima, Mangwe and Gwanda districts in digital skills, as part of ongoing Government efforts to promote digital inclusivity and improve access to information and communication technologies in marginalised communities.
The digital skills training programme this week focused on youths from Mangwe District and is expected to conclude in Matobo District, as the Ministry continues to roll out its outreach programme across Matabeleland South Province.
According to programme statistics, close to 200 youths from Gwanda District received training in Manama, while more than 300 youths from Bulilima District were trained in Nyele, Madlambudzi and Somnene wards. In Mangwe
District, over 60 youths have so far participated in the programme.
The training sessions are being conducted at local schools, supported by a Digitruck donated by Huawei
Technologies, which has enabled the Ministry to reach rural communities with limited access to digital infrastructure.
The mobile unit is equipped with a 10 kilowatt solar-powered system, supporting a fully functional digital laboratory.
It also has battery storage capacity that allows it to operate for more than three days without recharging.
The Digitruck can accommodate 20 learners and one instructor at a time, with each participant having access to a laptop. It is also fitted with a 65 inch smart screen, enhancing the delivery of digital skills training.
ICT Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti said the programme is anchored on President Mnangagwa’s development philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, with the aim of bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities.
“As Matabeleland South prepares to host our 46th independence celebrations, the Ministry of ICT has joined the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa as he leads the developmental trajectory of this nation through inclusivity and access.
“Digital skills have not just become a need but a right as a digitally literate nation has been known to be a great contributor to a nation’s GDP. Our digitally trained young people in rural Matabeleland South join independence legacy projects dotted around the province, chief among them over 40 Science laboratories spanning across all seven districts. This is indeed a fulfillment of the mantra ‘leaving no one and no place behind,’” he said.
Deputy Minister Phuti added that the Ministry plans to scale up the initiative to other parts of the country.
“Young people have been trained in Gwanda (Manama), Bulilima (Madlambudzi, Nyele and Somnene), Mangwe (Dingumuzi and TMB). The last lap will be done at the host district of Matobo leading to the 17th, on the day of the
Children’s Party, where the Ministry of ICT will have the President launch state of the art computer laboratories which are part of various impactful projects the ministry has done in the district of Matobo particularly and Matabeleland South in general.
“More districts like Insiza, Umzingwane and Beitbridge will have their digital skills training programmes after independence,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
ICT Ministry Youth Desk Officer Ms Primerose Mutsipah said they were encouraged by the turnout, noting that the programme has significantly capacitated young people with essential ICT skills.
“We have so far trained 182 youths in Gwanda, 315 in Bulilima and 61 in Mangwe. The programme aims to ensure that people are digitally literate and are able to do business, research and communicate among other things.
“This programme by the Ministry is part of a raft of measures we are putting in place to bridge the digital divide and play our part in ensuring the attainment of a digital economy by 2030,” said Ms Mutsipah.
Zanu PF Central Committee member Cde Charity Ndlovu, who is based in Somnene Ward, Bulilima District, described the programme as a critical milestone in advancing digital literacy in the area.
“The programme was a very important one and a lot of villagers now have the ability to participate in digital education as most of us were left behind in that area. We thank President Mnangagwa, and our MP Cde Phuti for making sure that such programmes reach previously marginalised areas,” said Cde Ndlovu.
A youth from Manama, Tsepo Nare, said the skills acquired from the programme have already enabled her to grow her small scale farming enterprise.
“I am happy I took part in the ICT skills training programme as I can now use various social media platforms to market my goat rearing project using the skills I’ve learnt from this programme.
“This will go a long way in ensuring that I have a consistent source of income and help grow the economy of our rural area,” said Nare.
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