Calvin Manika
THE recent developments in technology in the wake of Covid-19 are not a coincidence but the advancing already existing ideas and solutions to the global community in the 21st century.
While the world was already on its way towards a virtual society, the deadly pandemic has fast forwarded the journey towards the realisation of use of technology in the modern world. Desperate time calls for desperate measures, so they say but a pandemic era calls for innovative approaches.
During full lockdowns, Ownai, VAYA are some of the service providers which encouraged people to ‘stay home, stay safe’ whilst doing shopping and running client’s errands. It seemed absurd.
Imagine a person doing your shopping. People are used to visiting shops picking and dropping items, examining the freshness and smelling the aroma from the bakery.
But, during Covid-19 pandemic people had to change and adopt the new normal. Conferences, meetings, church services, graduations and learning are all being done virtually. Everything has changed and thanks to advancement in technology, however, to people in the marginalised areas of Matabeleland North it’s not the same story.
“Most of the people here are basically illiterate, let alone the use of ICTs. It’s something new and it will take time to be understood. The youngsters who are going to school are the ones trying to help adults with the little knowledge they have acquired so far. But, this is in and around the Growth Point area only, a different case for those in surrounding rural areas,” Musawenkosi Moyo of Lupane remarked.
Information communication technologies have demonstrated capabilities to encompass potential innovations which enable their use to the benefit of the organisations and society as a whole.
Information is carried and processed at great speeds within and across a variety of communication networks allowing the transfer of enormous amounts of information in real-time through a matrix of networks.
These include the Internet, wireless networks, radio, television, cell phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and other communication mediums. The use of computers and technology has become vital for every person and organisation to survive in this digital era.
The adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in many businesses has been accepted, particularly, in developed countries. However, there has been little information on the adoption and use of ICTs in many businesses in Zimbabwe as a whole, worse in marginalised rural areas.
Besides illiteracy, Sikhumbuzo Dube of Insuza thinks that: “Data charges are too expensive especially in this inflationary environment. Many people cannot afford to buy data bundles for learning or to do some online business. It is an area the government should subsidise to facilitate the participation of citizens in the e-world thus reducing the spread of coronavirus. We are far away from the major towns also, so during lockdowns we need re-supplies on regular intervals.”
Takemore Ncube in Jambezi added that: “Learning in rural areas has been always behind compared to those in urban setups. Covid-19 has brought more challenges to learners as most of the schools and households in rural areas have no access to the internet. In some cases schools have computers but without internet connection.”
Hwange residents who spoke to The Zambezi Times seem to be better positioned than their rural counterparts, they identified efficiency, time saving and convenience among others as the greatest benefits of using ICTs in supermarkets.
However, the greatest challenges in using ICTs in grocery shopping as identified by customers were poor network connectivity, systems malfunctioning and poor response to complaints. ICTs are here to stay and Covid-19 seems to be staying longer.
“The government and other organisations must be seen aggressively addressing the hiccups,” said Mandla Sibanda of Hwange.
Under the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) Community Information Centres (CICs) project, internet surfing and ICT training facilities are deployed at existing post offices or in remodeled container units such as the one in Binga.
Recently, Potraz commissioned a CIC in Binga, a development that is likely to promote connectivity in the marginalised area.
Under Potraz, CICs project, internet surfing and ICT training facilities are deployed at existing post offices or in remodeled container units such as the one in Binga.
Potraz has to this day commissioned 13 CICs in Matabeleland North province as it continues to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban areas.
