Story by Tamuka Charakupa
A call has been extended for girls to embrace the country’s digitalisation drive and take a leading role in spearheading digital innovation.
The call was made during this year’s belated commemorations of the International Day of Girls in ICT held in Chinhoyi, a day that celebrates the power of digital inclusion and encourages young women to break boundaries in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The event drew participants from across the country including school children, tertiary students and ICT players, where the girl child was rallied to embrace emerging technologies in their day-to-day lives.
“We are now actively embraced in STEM and I believe by educating the girl child we are creating a firm foundation towards the growth of the country’s economy,” a participant said.
“One of the key milestones in this journey is the fact that ICTs have crossed geographical boundaries. Rural girls are also well-versed with ICT issues which is now creating equal opportunities,” another noted.
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Director-General, Dr Gift Machengete said various programmes are being implemented to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural communities.
“Through initiatives like our digital centres, innovation support programmes, and digital skills training programmes, POTRAZ is working to bridge the digital divide, with a specific focus on empowering girls and women. We are collaborating with stakeholders, both public and private, to make sure that every girl has access not just to digital tools, but also to the knowledge and confidence to use them safely and effectively.”
The Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; Honourable Tatenda Mavetera implored girls across the country to boldly embrace the digital revolution being spearheaded by the Second Republic.
“The next big tech breakthrough won’t come from a single mind, it will come from teams of brilliant girls and boys working together. The digital transformation we seek cannot be achieved without the active participation of girls and women. We must work tirelessly to dismantle barriers that prevent them from entering these fields. Together, we can create a world where every girl has the opportunity to shape her own future and contribute meaningfully to our digital society,” she said.
The International Girls in ICT Day aims to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in Information and Communications Technology while raising awareness on the gender gap in the ICT sector.
