The Sunday News
Rutendo Nyeve
The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services on Wednesday and Friday officially handed over key internet infrastructure to Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South Province.
The past few years have seen rapid adoption of ICTs driven by mobile and web-based technology which includes e-learning.
Officially handing over the ICT laboratory on Friday at Mzinyathini High School, Deputy Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services Cde Dingumuzi Phuthi representing Dr Jenfen Musvere the Minister said the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services was going to continue complementing the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to enhance e-learning.
“Our Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services will continue to work in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to set up more ICT laboratories and community information centres in rural areas to enable students, teachers and citizens to have access to ICT services,” said Cde Phuthi.
ICTs have been identified as key in achieving Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income economy.
“ICTs are transforming all sectors of the economy as recognised in the National Development Strategy One (NDS1).
His Excellency, the President Dr E.D Mnangagwa mandated our Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier services to embark on the SMART Zimbabwe 2030 Masterplan to give effect to NDS1. The Masterplan seeks to transform the country through use of ICTs so that Zimbabwe attains its vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030. A major component of the Masterplan is Smart Education/e-learning,” said Cde Phuti.
While appreciating the development, Form 1 pupil Valentine Mahlangu enlightened on how their generation was getting rid of the traditional methods of learning and embracing new technology.
“Out with the old and in with the new, no more carrying of books and loads of textbooks. For our teachers it’s goodbye to chalk and dust. As they call us ama 2000, we are the paperless generation.
“As Mzinyathini High School, we would like to thank Government as we will now have lessons delivered using projectors,” said Valentine.
Umzingwane Member of Parliament Brigadier-General (Retired) Levi Mayihlome who also donated computers in 1998 at the same school called on the pupils to safeguard the development.
“I am so grateful with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier services for committing some these developments to Umzingwane. I have been engaging the ministry and they have heeded to the call.
“I want to call upon pupils and parents to jealously safeguard this infrastructure as it belongs to us as a community,” said Brig-Gen (Rtdf) Mayihlome.
The official handover of the ICT lab on Friday came after the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier services officially opened a community information centre at Esigodini centre. — @nyeve14
