The Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe has launched a report on the State of Access and Use of Community Information Centres in Zimbabwe today in Harare.
Nompilo Simanje, the organization’s Legal and ICT Policy officer said the report evaluates the state of Access and the barriers that people in communities face when using information centres.
“Today MISA Zimbabwe launched it’s state of Access and Use of Community Information Centres in Zimbabwe Report, and the purpose of that report was to access the community centres that have been established using the Universal Services Fund as part of an intention to promote telecommunication services in marginalized communities,”
“In the report there were findings in terms of demographics of usage of the community information centres but also the gaps in terms of availability of internet access and also availability of facilities that are suitable particularly for people with disabilities,”
“The report also has recommendations with regards to areas of collaboration for various stakeholders to further advance the work on internet access and affordability,” she said
CICs are the brainchild of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) under their Universal Services Fund (USF).
The USF is a pool of funds derived from mobile operators, internet access providers and fixed line operators . The purpose of these finances is to assist the extension of postal and telecommunication services to underserved areas and community centres.
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