Zimbabwe do you read?
● Muzarabani calls for connection
THE opening of the Muzarabani digital information community centre in May, 2016, brought joy to this marginalised and impoverished community.
The dry and remote area of Muzarabani which lies about 300km from Harare, has seen both natural and man-made disasters including extreme weather temperatures further impoverishing this marginalised community.
The launch of the digital information community centre brought hope as the community anticipated that is would change their fortunes and link them to the rest of the world. It did. For a second or so!
Barely two years after it was opened amid pomp and fanfare which was iced by the cutting of the ribbons, the well-build place now depicts a deserted home. And it seems people will care less.
Far from the fanfare that came with the ribbon cutting, which meant to set the tone for a milestone that seemingly would change the marginalised community’s fortunes, the places is now just but a white elephant.
Thousands witnessed the launch of the noble project which was officiated by the then Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services, Supa Mandiwanzira.
Barely two years on, the marginalised community feels cheated. What happened the day after cutting the ribbon, no one probably knows.
The community had hoped this noble cause that was set to bring equity in terms of access to information by bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities would change fortunes for the usually food-insecure community which is always ravaged by natural and man-made disasters.
“We were really excited when the information community centre was opened. I had hoped this would see us accessing information even pertaining to weather patterns as we are always caught up by disasters such as floods, drought among others, unaware.
“This would have connected us to the rest of the world or at least the rest of Zimbabwe, but God knows what happened to the internet after the launch. What I still remember is that the centre only functioned for at least a few months after the launch then after that, we got disconnected. I really don’t know how but all I know is that we are back to what we were, marginalised Muzarabani which has no access to information,” lamented a Muzarabani teacher.
Muzarabani Ward 8 Councillor, Norman Chizeya says his community feels cheated as they never realised any gains from the launch of this digital information community centre arguing that it was hardly connected for a long time.
“I’m sure you have even seen for yourself that this place is now just a white elephant. While we had hoped that it would help inform us on weather patterns and benefit students in this area, all this never happened. We were just cheated, they launched and never looked back.
“Even the staff there have gone for months without being paid and all they do is go to work, sit and chat until the day is over. There is really nothing they can do but wait upon their employer whom I suppose is Potraz.
“For all I know, this digital information community centre was just a dummy that was sold to us. I have tried to report the issue to the responsible authorities with no success,” he said.
Cllr Chizeya says he was disappointed that those responsible had not made a follow up at least to see that the community benefits from this digital information community centre.
“This community is already marginalised so if anything, the centre is really needed.”
The Muzarabani Community Information Centre which can cater for 14 people at any given time, was meant to be a one-stop ICT shop offering services like internet surfing, photocopying, printing, scanning, faxing, laminating and gaming while bringing access to information.
While this information centre is seemingly being forgotten by those responsible, the Ministry of Information Technology, Postal and Courier Services recently announced that it was set to open more such centres across the country’s 52 districts.
These community information centres that seek to build further the knowledge and appreciation of ICT throughout the country are a project of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz).
To be fair on Potraz though, these centres were opened previously under the stewardship of Zimpost which had diversified into any business from ICT to rural chicken buses!
Minister Supa Mandiwanzira could, however, not respond to the Muzarabani community’s unanswered questions of what happened the day after cutting the ribbons.
“Who is in charge of those centres? So get in touch with them,” said Minister Mandiwanzira when contact for a comment.
While the bickering continues, this low-lying area in the Zambezi Basin, making it flood-prone and one of the most marginalised communities in the country, continues to be disconnected from the rest of the country in the absence of a functional digital information community centre.
Many would find worry over what is perhaps just an internet café to be petty. But retired council employee Temba Moyana reveals a shocker!
“We haven’t had radio reception here since January 1 this year. We have been cut off from the rest of the nation. That is why things like the information centre are important for us,” he concludes.
Clearly they need to join the rest of the nation and get connected.