Calls grow for community inclusion in ICT initiatives
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By Nobukhosi Ndlovu
Experts have urged stakeholders to prioritise community involvement in the rollout of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives, warning that limited public participation continues to undermine their impact.
Discussions on strengthening the digital policy framework have observed the importance of involving communities in ICT initiatives, with speakers stressing that public understanding and participation are key to building the trust and support for technology driven developments in communities.
These ideas were recectly raised during a space discussion led by WILD on X, which featured Member of Parliament for Emakhandeni-Luveve Constituency, Honorable Discent Bajila, the Executive Director of Matobo Youth Development Initiative, Descent Dube and Rachel Voko, the Founder and Director of Skill A Community.
Honorable Bajila spoke of the tour that was done by the Parliament Portfolio Committee on ICT Postal and Courier Services where they visited Village and Community Information Centers. Bajila explained that these centers are supposed to be available in every community and can be found at post offices and buildings that the Ministry would have rented. “We were trying to assess whether people are visiting those information centers and if those centers are giving people access to internet as well as IT related knowledge.” Bajila said.
“The curriculum has to be improved to meet present needs,” he continued, reflecting on the gaps they discovered during the assessment of the centers that hinder the skilling received there from being translated into work opportunities. He pointed out that many of the lessons being offered are limited to basic IT skills, something he noted was revealing how far the country still has to go in strengthening knowledge transfer around ICT.
“It’s a good start,” Descent Dube began, commenting on the basic knowledge those that have access to ICT actually get. “But looking at how times have moved, it might be difficult to close the gap.” He added, explaining that some of them tend to use that opportunity to chat or stream online which might not the knowledge that allows them to make informed decisions.
Dube also highlighted that most of those initiatives to close digital divide are not community centered. “Lack of community collective initiatives is creating the ‘us and them’culture,” Dube said, stressing that ICT programmes should involve communities from the start so that people feel included rather than sidelined.
He went on to explain that some of the ICT focused projects run by schools in rural areas can cause tension when parents are asked to contribute financially. He recommended that communities be included from the start through awareness raising strategies so people can understand why ICT skills matter and in order for them to feel empowered to support and protect the projects rather than being left out when they are being implemented.
Rachel Voko also chimed in the discussion, noting the need to translate digital policy ideas into realities of everyday life. She stated that factors such as the type of phones people use, access to energy to keep their devices powered up and the affordability of data all determine whether individuals can meaningfully engage in the digital space and without addressing those needs, any planned program can exclude those it is supposed to empower.
The space was a continuation of an
ongoing dialogue under the theme, ‘Strengthening Understanding of Digital Policy Framework: Opportunities and Gaps’ where participants reflected on the broader implications of poor implementation of ICT focused initiatives as well as unpacking the legislative and policy environment in shaping Zimbabwe’s digital transitioning.
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