FOR many schoolchildren in the country’s rural communities, surfing the internet is something not easily accessible to them.
Google, Yahoo and Facebook might exist, but they have no access.
Lack of electricity and network infrastructure has resulted in computers for example, those donated under the Presidential Computerisation Programme, not being fully utilised.
To solve the situation, Government, supported by Zimbabwe Postal Services (Zimpost) and mobile service provider Net One have embarked on an extensive information and communication technology centres programme.
The programme to be rolled out in the country’s 52 districts is expected to bridge the digital divide between urban centres and marginalised communities.
The first such centre was officially launched by President Robert Mugabe last week at Murombedzi Growth Point, about 110 kilometres west of Harare.
Five other rural community-based ICT centres are ready for opening.
The Murombedzi community information centre consists of an internet café which has 22 computers connected to a local area network internet access, a state-of-the art printer, photocopier, scanner, faxing and binding machine, wireless networking technology, three 40 inch monitors for video gaming and a pool table, Zimpost, Netone and Econet facilities.
The centre is geared to providing the community with ICT skills and access to the internet, to promote the exploitation of ICTs as an alternative source of livelihood, especially for the youth, and for economic sustainability of beneficiary communities as a whole.
To ensure access for all, the information centre is offering affordable rates for internet services.
Surfing the internet and playing video games costs US 50 cents for an hour while photocopying is a dollar for 30 copies.
Officially opening the Murombedzi Community Information Centre last week, President Robert Mugabe said access to information will enable Zimbabweans to share information and decision makers to link macro-economic policy-making to grassroots initiatives.
He said the overall aim of the establishment of the community information centres is to achieve equity of access to information, thereby bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities.
“ICTs can avail information relevant for agricultural production, processing, marketing, transport and food storage, education, healthcare, disease control as well as environmental management,” said President Mugabe.
“One major problem facing rural communities in Zimbabwe, and Africa in general is the limited access to relevant and current information about health, education, economy, transport, agriculture and market access.
“Without information, the rural communities are hampered from fully participating in national development.”
President Mugabe said the establishment of community information centres resonates well with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim ASSET) which treats communication in general and ICTs in particular, as one of the pillars for economic growth.
While the programme is noble, most important is the maintenance of the information centres for future use.
The country has in the past had projects that have crumbled due to poor maintenance.
Chitungwiza technology centre for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which was commissioned a few years ago has become a white elephant.
The multi-million dollar state-of-the-art technology centre launched in 2009 to enhance production capacity of SMEs is barely functioning.
Also the mega sporting facilities, Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and Magamba Hockey Stadium constructed when Zimbabwe hosted the 1995 All Africa games have fallen into decay as a result of poor maintenance and use.
These projects are a clear indication of what can happen to an investment if there is poor maintenance.
To keep the flame of the information centres burning, it is critical that these centres be manned by qualified personnel who can repair and service the computers and video games regularly.
Therefore, it is the mandate of all stakeholders in the information and communication fraternity to ensure these information centres are fully serviced and maintained.
At the official launch, President Mugabe warned Zimbabweans to be wary of cyber-threats and content that collectively seeks to destabilise the country.
Social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube accelerated the Arab uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
The use of social networks to destabilise these Arab nations was an American agenda meant to push for regime change in order for the Americans to gain the control of oil in those countries.