Zim, India use ICTs to upgrade rural women

Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter

Government in partnership with India is working on upgrading ICT centres in rural areas to ensure women have access to information technology.

This was revealed by Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, while officiating during the International Day of Rural Women in Harare on Tuesday.

Minister Nyoni said incubation centres are being established to ensure that ICT service centres reach rural areas.

“My ministry is working with the Ministry of ICTs to ensure that there are ICT centres in rural areas so that women can access information technology and also be digital. We have established service centres in every province as there are about two in every province.

“Together with the Indian government we are upgrading the ICT centres so that at least both women and men have access to technology at village level.

“We are establishing incubation centres which will also be linked to these service centres to ensure that they are incubated,” she said.

She highlighted that women play an important role in ensuring food security as 80 percent of women live in the communal areas where they constitute 61 percent of the farmers and provide 70 percent of the labour.

“Rural women work 16 to 18 hours a day, spending at least 49 percent of their time on agricultural activities and about 25 percent on domestic activities.

“According to the 2012 Women and Men in Zimbabwe Report (ZIMSTAT), 80 percent of women live in communal areas where they constitute 61 percent of the farmers and provide 70 percent of the labour. This reinforces the critical role of rural women that is essential for ensuring food security at household level,” said Minister Nyoni.

Minister Nyoni added that a number of rural community projects have received funding from the ministry and purchased pumps, water pipes, fencing material and water storage tanks to aid more efficient and productive agricultural practices.

The International Rural Women’s Day was adopted by the United Nations Conference for Women in Beijing, in September 1995. The day has become important in acknowledging the voices of rural women, taking note of their diversity, roles and circumstances.