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The Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services in collaboration with Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) on Monday launched 13 ICT Laboratories in Masvingo Province.
So far this year the Ministry of ICT and POTRAZ have commissioned 45 ICT laboratories.
Speaking during the official launch of the ICT Labs at Mushandike Secondary School POTRAZ Director General Dr Gift Kallisto Machengete highlighted that the speed at which the Ministry and POTRAZ are the rolling out these projects reaffirms Government’s commitment to the attainment of a digital economy by the year 2030.
“The centrality of ICTs to humanity cannot be overemphasised. The importance of the Internet to human life and wellbeing should never be underestimated. We cannot imagine a life without ICTs – not in 2023.
“The roll out of numerous ICT development initiatives aimed at improving access and use of the Internet across the entire economic spectrum bears testimony to Government’s appreciation that ICTs and other emerging technologies have the power to transform the lives of the general populace in our country.
“Due to such importance of ICTs, His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa has directed the Ministry of ICT and POTRAZ to accelerate the uptake of ICTs by all.
He added that, ” Such speed at which the Ministry and POTRAZ are rolling out these projects reaffirms Government’s commitment to the attainment of a digital economy and a knowledge society for all Zimbabweans. It reaffirms the seriousness by His Excellency the President to transform the country into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.”
He went on to advice the benefiting schools and communities to jealously guard these infrastructure from theft and vandalism.
Minister of ICT Jenfan Muswere also highlighted that, every school and community in Zimbabwe must get a chance under POTRAZ universal service in order to bridge the digital divide.
“In terms of the national ICT policy that focuses on ensuring that no-one and no place will be left behind this is part of the national development strategy which mainly focuses on ensuring that there is inclusivity that we bridge the rural and urban digital divide that also ensures that as we journey towards vision 2030 each and every citizen of this country should be empowered as we journey towards the upper middle income society by the year 2030.
“Each and every school and community must get a chance under POTRAZ universal services and so as to bridge digital divide from rural and urban schools under the universal services fund projects, the smart Zimbabwe master plan is one of the key blue prints that is going to transform macro-economy landscape of this country.
“Today we have conducted part of the first phase of the national eLearning strategy which under smart Zimbabwe master plan includes digital capacitation of citizens of Zimbabwe, digital capacitation in terms of ensuring that all learners all students and pupils now we have the digital power to utilise ICT for research and development purposes.
“ICT is now the common denominator, it’s the electricity of the 21st century,” said Muswere.
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