170 community info centres opened

POSTAL and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has established 170 community information centres (CICs) countrywide to achieve equitable access to information and bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities.

The initiative is in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which emphasises the digital economy as one of the 14 national pillars for the period 2021 to 2025.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) can avail information relevant for agricultural production, processing, marketing, transport and food storage, education, healthcare, disease control as well as environmental management.

Rural communities had limited access to the internet and the establishment of CICs will ensure that people in the rural areas have free access to the internet.

Speaking at the commissioning of CICs in Harare, (POTRAZ) director-general Dr Gift Machengete said the centres were accessible to everyone for free.

“A total of 170 CICs have been established countrywide and an additional 32 are under construction and will open their doors to the public next year,” he said.

“Internet surfing is free of charge at all CICs, hence, I encourage everyone to visit their nearest CIC every now and again and make full use of these facilities. As we roll out CICs countrywide, allow me to reiterate the importance of responsible internet use.

“If used irresponsibly, ICTs can bring more harm than good to society. In this regard, as the authority responsible for data protection, POTRAZ is rolling out programmes aimed at ensuring that risks associated with internet use are mitigated.”