The Sunday News
Sandisiwe Gumbo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has established 202 Community Information Centres (CICs) across the country as it moves towards reducing the digital divide and technologically empowering marginalised communities.
The main objective of the centres is to provide internet access to communities that lack both connectivity and financial means.
Responding to questions from Sunday News Business, Potraz director-general Dr Gift Machengete said the idea behind the establishment of the CICs was for everyone, everywhere to experience the full benefits of the Internet as the nation moves towards a digital economy.
“The main objective of CICs is to bring Internet access and use to marginalised communities which do not have either connectivity or financial means to access the Internet. Internet access is free of charge. Additionally, CICs provide free training in basic computer appreciation to enable those who cannot use the Internet to do so.
“A total of 202 CICs have been established so far. A total of 146 of these are at ZIMPOST Post Offices, 24 are containerised units deployed across 24 rural sites and 32 are brick and mortar structures built in rural areas. Twenty of the brick-and-mortar sites are, however, not yet complete and are at various stages of completion. As such, a total of 182 CICs are operational,” said Dr Machengete.
The director-general said CICs are funded by Potraz, the completed and fully equipped sites are then handed over to ZIMPOST for operationalisation, with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services being involved as a key stakeholder in the project as CICs fall under the Digital Transformation Pillar of NDS1 for which they are in charge.
“In terms of services and resources, the CICs offer free Internet surfing and free training. CICs also offer printing, photocopying and scanning services at concessionary rates. Some, not all CICs have gaming facilities, which can be accessed by youths free of charge. The reason for gaming at CICs is to stimulate innovation and critical thinking among young people while keeping them off the streets.
“The impact of CICs to the benefiting communities has been immense, here we talk of all the possible benefits of free Internet access you can think of. One benefit being improved is e-trade through use of platforms such as Facebook for marketing. People have also gained computer skills through the free training,” said Dr Machengete.
He further revealed that services at CICs are envisioned to expand to include e-Government services where people would be applying for passports as well as birth and death certificates from CICs.
It is expected that promoting e-trade in rural areas through the centres will contribute positively in empowerment in such communities especially in rural areas.
