Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa, Harare Bureau
President Mnangagwa has announced the nationwide rollout of a Presidential Internet Scheme, emphasising the importance of leveraging new technologies to promote social cohesion, unity, peace, love, and harmony.
The Presidential Internet Scheme that will reach even the most marginalised areas will result in basic social services such as schools, clinics, community centres and farmers benefiting from a digital society leading to increased productivity.
President Mnangagwa, however, took a swipe at rogue elements with a propensity of fuelling divisions in society through abusing the internet saying they will be punished.
Speaking at the launch of the Digitruck and Digital Skills Ambassador Programme at State House, President Mnangagwa said these are transformative initiatives designed to leap forward the nation into digital excellence and inclusivity where every community is empowered to thrive in the global digital economy.
He urged the nation to embrace the National Digital Ambassadors project and other related programmes which have the potential to unlock opportunities for inclusion, e-governance, education, entrepreneurship and broad-based empowerment.
“To bolster this effort, the Presidential Internet Programme will be launched and deploy technology such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services across marginalised communities.
“The e-enabling infrastructure will complement existing services to bring high-speed internet closer to villages, schools, clinics, and community centres, while empowering farmers and entrepreneurs, among other users,” he said.
President Mnangagwa called on traditional leaders as custodians of the rich national heritage, to rally communities to leverage the National Digital Ambassadors Programme and Presidential Internet Scheme to safeguard, preserve and promote the country’s culture, values and norms.
“Communities across the country are called upon to use ICTs and related applications responsibly.
“These new technologies must help foster social cohesion, unity, peace, love, and harmony, ultimately leading to a productive as well as connected digital society,” he said.
“Those with the tendency of fuelling divisions among communities will be punished. I am pleased that the National Digital Ambassadors’ Programme has received significant support from our partners at Huawei. The generous donation and handover of a state-of-the-art mobile vehicle, the Digi-Truck, is welcome and commendable.”
President Mnangagwa said the Digitruck will play a pivotal role in enabling citizens to be digitally literate and access online services.
“The vehicle will traverse our provinces, delivering ICT training to the most remote areas. Going into the future, our goal to deploy adequate Digi-Trucks in all provinces must be realised.
“This will see the transformation of our national highways and rural road networks into pathways of knowledge and ensure that geography and distance never limit opportunity,” he said.
“We expect this programme to help bridge the rural-urban digital divide, to propel the growth of the economy, prosperity and a brighter future for all.”
Turning to the young ‘Digital Ambassadors’ President Mnangagwa urged them to be patriotic and focused drivers of transformation as well as sustainable socio-economic development of Zimbabwe.
“One hundred digital ambassadors will be deployed in each province to deliver strategic and inclusive digital literacy training across the country, especially in marginalised communities.
“These ‘tech savvy ambassadors’ will serve as accelerators for the uptake of digital literacy, fostering innovation, and supporting local businesses, schools, and households in harnessing technology for development,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the National Digital Ambassadors Programme is being launched a few days before the commemoration of the National Youth Day in Bulawayo.
“It is a flagship initiative designed to equip our vibrant youth and the general community with cutting-edge ICT skills and tools. Under this programme, many of our young Zimbabweans will be trained as resident ICT experts within their communities.
“In keeping with the Devolution Agenda, the National Digital Ambassadors Programme will help ensure that digital skills are devolved to every corner of Zimbabwe, leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the need for e-services in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies has now become an urgent necessity.
“My Government has embarked on programmes and projects to promote the delivery of quality digital services, with noticeable progress in sectors such as justice, vital civil registration and immigration.
“While more efforts are being made, I challenge all our people to have the requisite digital skills to interface with the e-Government services at various levels,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the country’s National Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 documents embed digitalisation and Information Communication Technology as enabling tools for the promotion of digital economy, development and overall growth.
He said to guarantee that these goals are met, his administration made deliberate decisions to front load ICT, science and technology skills access spreading beyond institutions of higher learning starting at the pre and primary-school levels.
“Embrace this and other opportunities being facilitated by my Administration to become masters of your destinies as architects and implementers of our national development programmes.
“To all stakeholders across various sectors of the economy, let us remain united and resilient, innovate relentlessly while upholding our pledge to leave no one and no place behind,” he said.
The President expressed gratitude for the excellent relations and partnerships existing with the
People’s Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates which have partnered with Zimbabwe on noble initiatives.
