By Tendai Chisiri
Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services in conjunction with POTRAZ commissioned twenty-two Computer Labs in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province which is a testimony of Government’s effort to the attainment of a digital economy and a knowledge society for all Zimbabweans on Friday
POTRAZ director general Gift Machengete giving his remarks on the event said because ICTs and the Internet are the bedrock of the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon which future life changing technologies will ride, so they have have no option but to adopt ICTs with haste. “There is no better strategy for this than to teach our children ICTs in schools as we “Catch them Young”, hence the launch of the twenty – two (22) Computer Labs we have witnessed today”, he said.
The Commissioning of a staggering twenty-two (22) school computer laboratories in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province by the Honourable Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services today, is testimony of Government’s commitment to the attainment of a digital economy and a knowledge society for all Zimbabweans.
“While Government’s ICT access and use programs are targeting all Zimbabweans young and old, there has been a deliberate focus on pupils as we believe in preparing young people for a digital economy, we believe in preparing young people for jobs of the future which would require extensive knowledge of ICTs and ICT applications, we believe in preparing young people to compete in the global village – a global village controlled by artificial intelligence, robotic, virtual reality, blockchain and big data, which, as our future leaders, they should be well versed with”, added Machengete.
As His Excellency the President recognises the importance of the Internet and its transformative benefits to national development, hence Government’s focus on various ICT development initiatives meant at accelerating the country’s economic development.
“Government’s ICT development programs also stem from the realisation that effective participation in the digital economy is critical in improving the quality of life for all – those in cities and towns and those in rural areas alike”, he said.
“Last week, the Honourable Minister Commissioned twelve (12) School ICT Labs in Masvingo rural and Gutu Districts and today we are in an urban area – Bulawayo Metropolitan Province – commissioning a further twenty – two (22) schools computer labs, which is a demonstration that no one and no place shall be left behind as we revolutionise the country’s ICT landscape and take our position as a force to reckon with in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, he added.
As he concluded his remarks, he stressed that, as POTRAZ, they are only Government’s implementing partner for such developmental initiatives. “Therefore, allow me to thank and applaud the visionary behind these programs, the Mastermind of these developmental initiatives – His Excellency the President who has sent us together with the Ministry of ICT as his stewards of development to the people”, he said.
“We have been instructed by the President to accelerate ICT programs and in that regard, you shall see us moving with lightning speed as we work towards ensuring a fully connected Zimbabwe” he revealed.
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