Story by Tafara Chikumira
JUNIOR parliamentarians and traditional leaders in Midlands Province have received Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets from a consignment donated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a move aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation drive.
The handover included 41 Starlink kits for junior parliamentarians and smartphones for traditional leaders, adding to the iPads distributed last year.
Officials said the equipment is expected to enhance research capacity, improve communication and strengthen service delivery at grassroots level.
“I want to thank President Mnangagwa for availing these ICT gadgets. The Starlink will help in research for students and on current affairs issues. Where I come from in Mberengwa, there is a lack of accessibility to such gadgets and as such, we are privileged to be exposed to such,” said Mberengwa District Senator Zvipo Masviba.
Headman Makaba said the smartphones would improve coordination within traditional structures.
“I want to thank our President for providing these smartphones. This will help communication between my office and the several village heads under my jurisdiction. It will also help me convey messages to the Chief,” he said.
Volunteers under the National AIDS Council (NAC) also benefited from the consignment, receiving bicycles and start-up materials for income-generating projects targeting vulnerable groups.
“If you check our line of work, we usually work with vulnerable girls between the age of 16 and 24. These people require some start-ups and skills to help them become independent. These machines and sewing materials will address their challenges in a huge way,” said NAC Sister-to-Sister mentor Mrs Roseline Chinyama.
NAC Behavioural Change Coordinator Mr Ike Ndlovu said the bicycles would ease mobility challenges.
“The bicycles have indeed come in handy in our line of work. We can now navigate and address all the challenges affecting the people in society. As we move to deliver test kits and medication, our job has been made easy,” he said.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube said the initiative aligns with Government’s Vision 2030 agenda.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Dr E.D Mnangagwa envisioned attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030 underpinned by heritage-based and knowledge-driven innovation, modernisation and industrialisation of the economy,” he said.
Authorities said the ICT support advances the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2) pillar on Science, Technology, Digital Innovation and Human Capital Development, while the start-up packages address gaps in the social services cluster.
