President commissions ICT centre
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday commissioned Chinhoyi Community Information Centre as the footprint of his vision to connect all communities electronically continues to flourish.
About 160 similar centres are expected to be operational countrywide before the end of this year. President Mugabe said, “We are glad that what we are doing here, entirely on our own without assistance from the Europeans and the Americans, is really to raise the level of knowledge of our people, and we want it to continue this way.”
He said though rural electrification was progressing remarkably, Government ministries should help communities bridge the power gap through initiatives such as solar hubs.
“We can spread to rural areas, but you are aware that there is no electricity. If there was an initiative also from the people, you know, to get together and put up solar panels at centres, perhaps areas that are more central in the rural areas. . .
“That will come in time. Electricity will come in time. There are quite a number of issues inhibiting us from stretching ourselves, say, from here (Chinhoyi) to the Zambezi.”
The President handed over 120 laptops to five schools in Mashonaland West, and implored the people of Chinhoyi to use the Community Information Centre profitably.
He said Government will establish more information centres progressively as resources become available.
ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira said, “These community information centres have been well received wherever you have officially commissioned, Your Excellency. We are not stopping, and we are moving with rapid speed in terms of deployment.
“In Lupane, you (President Mugabe) officially commissioned one of 82 centres, and today we are saying this centre is one of 95 centres that are ready for commissioning. By December, 160 centres should have been commissioned.”
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Faber Chidarikire welcomed the establishment of Chinhoyi Information Centre, which has 28 computers that can also be used by the visually-impaired and 16 computer training facilities.