Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
CASES of theft and vandalism of internet network equipment has been on the rise with a total of 86 major incidences affecting 5 305 clients having been recorded in Bulawayo so far.
The development that has affected business transactions has been described as an affront to the country’s efforts of achieving access to digital information for all, in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which is driving the economy towards an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
State owned-entities such as Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), TelOne and National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) have also suffered heavy losses in infrastructure and revenue. Presenting on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) growth and development in the city at the review of the Provincial Economic Development Plan (PEDP), the thematic working group chairperson, Mr Stanley Mumvumbi said theft and vandalism continue to affect the sector.
“So far theft and vandalism of network has been a major issue for Bulawayo. A total of 86 major incidences were recorded affecting 5 305 clients in the process. Network downtime and poor service experience due to vandalism affect businesses and individuals. There is also increased cost due to erratic power supplies that characterised the first-half of the year,” he said.
He said the crimes (theft and vandalism) were bleeding the telecommunication parastatals of millions of dollars in hard currency as most of the infrastructure was imported and expensive to replace. Looking at efforts being made to improve access to telephone and internet in the city, Mr Mumvumbi said TelOne was on a drive to move their clients from copper-based services to fibre to improve the quality of communication experience.
“TelOne has commissioned 1 500 Fibre to the Home (FTTH) capacity for Hillside. Clients in the area can therefore now enjoy faster speeds and seamless connectivity. They have also started deployment of 2 700 FTTH capacity in Mahatshula to extend internet and voice service to areas with no service. This development has benefited households which were previously unconnected,” he added.
He said TelOne to date had recorded home broadband connections growth of 1 248 connections from 23 807 to 25 055, while the voice line connections grew from 54 479 to 55 740. Mr Mumvumbi said the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services has ensured computerisation of all Government schools across the country through the capacitation of schools with computers, networks (WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi), learning and teaching aids such as interactive intelligent tools, printers, and remote learning aids.
“In Bulawayo, the laboratory per school programme has seen 17 primary schools and 14 secondary schools receiving 230 and 285 laptops respectively bringing the total to 515. There has been establishment of Community Information Centres (CICs) across the country with eleven centres at different Post Offices in the city so as to improve and increase ICT access, utilisation and skills,” he added.
In terms of the ministry’s major projects and programmes planned for next year in Bulawayo, he said with enough funding, they were hoping to deploy network in new and unserved areas starting with Cowdray Park, Nkulumane as well as Pumula, while their target was to deliver service to at least 7 000 households.
Mr Mumvumbi said they were looking forward to the computerisation of Jairos Jiri Centre for the physically challenged and Sizinda Vocational Centre as part of a nationwide drive to connect all institutions to the internet and bridge the digital divide. He said there was going to be an establishment of an ICT assembly plant in the city to ensure that ministries and departments fully migrate to automated systems.
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