Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) says the country has made strides in bridging the gender and economic digital divides by promoting inclusivity in the technology space, including by providing scholarships to underprivileged students.
This was revealed by the regulatory authority’s director general, Dr Gift Machengete, who recently had the opportunity to highlight Zimbabwe’s inclusivity and connectivity projects at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum in Geneva.
“Zimbabwe’s efforts in policy, infrastructure and skills development have made strides in bridging the gender digital divide. Continued investment and targeted programmes will be crucial to ensuring no one is left behind in the digital revolution.”
Dr Machengete said gender inclusivity in the tech space was being promoted through initiatives such as the Girls in ICT programme and SheTech programme, among others.
He said these programmes aimed to inspire and equip girls and young women with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in ICT by challenging stereotypes and offering hands-on learning experiences.
“We also offer scholarships to those who are underprivileged, and this is for both boys and girls. Various initiatives are being done to ensure that we transform Zimbabwe’s digital future through an inclusive model that will ensure that rural and urban poor have access to ICT tools,” he added.
Dr Machengete said Zimbabwe’s robust digital strides were also being witnessed through digital centres.
He said they leveraged post offices for digital transformation by turning them into digital centres that were now centres of excellence that facilitate e-commerce and access to e-government services.
“143 post offices have been renovated to accommodate digital centres. Digital centres will help bridge the digital divide and assist users to create digital products,” he said.
“There is access to digital tools and training as well as affordable and available internet connectivity. To ensure inclusivity of the elderly as well, there are 202 community information centres in rural areas.”
Dr Machengete said the elderly could go to these centres and access ICT services, which were also incorporating telemedicine to ensure they do not have to travel long distances.
He said promoting inclusivity and bringing the digital divide was fundamental as Zimbabwe was targeting to build a knowledge-based society.
“This is a society where no one is left behind through infrastructure development, targeted training, technology support, gender empowerment, financial aid and policy advocacy. The authority is laying the foundation for a more equitable and digitally empowered Zimbabwe.”
Dr Machengete said Potraz also collaborates with other regulators, such as tax, monetary and procurement authorities to ensure there is an enabling environment for accelerated digital transformation.
In terms of working as a joint force with mobile network operators, he said they were relocating co-located base station towers to underserved and unserved areas.
“Potraz’s flagship project, the Tower Relocation Programme, is an initiative meant to improve network coverage and capacity, especially in areas with greater demand for network services or higher population density.”
The initiative key under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) aims at improving telecommunications infrastructure, reducing duplication and enhancing network efficiency. The programme involves the sharing and relocation of towers among mobile operators to optimize coverage and reduce costs.
Dr Machengete said they were also promoting inclusive digital access by providing basic ICT training as well as assistive software and hardware to persons with disabilities.
The Government continues to intensify efforts to close the urban-rural, gender, and economic digital divides, with the country on track to meet NDS1 digital targets.
Peter Tanyanyiwa