Digitally connecting all: ICT Lab for Nyakuipa School, judges graduate

In pursuit of creating access to information communication technology for all Zimbabweans regardless of their location, Dr. Jenfan Muswere presided over the commissioning of the Nyakuipa Secondary School ICT Laboratory and the graduation of judges.

Hon Muswere, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services said his ministry has a mandate to create access to ICTs for all Zimbabweans regardless of their location.

In that regard, he said the development of any Nation is founded on human capital development. The minister said the ability to attain vision 2030 rests on how well-trained people are. As a result, any training that does not involve learners in institutions of learning is futile as it is not forward-looking. The provision of ICT equipment to schools is, therefore, a priority if we are to achieve vision 2030.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Nyakuipa Secondary School ICT laboratory yesterday, Minister Muswere said: “The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier services has come up with The SMART Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan in line with the National Development Strategy 1. The Master Plan seeks to transform the country through the use of ICTs so that Zimbabwe attains its Vision of becoming an Upper Middle-income economy by 2030. A major component of the Smart Zimbabwe Masterplan is Smart Education / eLearning.

“Our vision is to see all learners having access to and knowledge of ICTs to not only facilitate learning in the classroom but virtually any place and anytime. The ICT Lab we have commissioned today is, therefore, a gateway for Nyakuipa to the world and it is also a route marker as Zimbabwe forges its way towards attaining an Upper Middle Economy Status by the year 203.”

The minister also had the opportunity to address the latest graduating class of Judges of our superior courts. He said the graduation was evidence of the strategic and enviable relationship between the Judicial Services Commission and the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services.

“Allow me to therefore express my gratitude to these two entities for co-hosting this important event. This training of Judges is not only important as a form of continuous staff development but it has also come at an opportune time when the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to realise the importance of ICTs. The use of ICTs to comply with COVID-19 regulations such as social distancing has transformed the need for ICT usage knowledge from being an option into a fundamental necessity. It is refreshing to note that the Judiciary is taking a huge lead in adapting to the new normal where the knowledge of the use of ICTs has become so vital that it can mean the difference between life and death.

“This training workshop dovetails with the aspirations of the Government of Zimbabwe as led by His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa in its quest to have a digitally literate population in the journey to becoming an upper-middle-income society by the year 2030. The National Development Strategy 1 identifies Human Capital Development as one of the key drivers for the country’s march towards Vision 2030. The focus of Human Capital Development is on creating a knowledge-driven economy for sustained growth and modernisation of Zimbabwe,” Dr. Muswere said.

He implored the Judges to use the knowledge they acquired not only to improve the justice delivery system but push Zimbabwe closer to attaining Vision 2030 as envisaged by President Mnangagwa.

“I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to acknowledge the sacrifice that has been made by our Judges in attending this training. Attendance of this training not only means taking time away from your work but it entails creating time to learn new concepts from many of us who do not qualify to be judges by our mere age as required by the constitution. Your sacrifice is not only admirable but is a huge lesson in humility to the world. As a Ministry, we remain at your disposal in this journey to transform Zimbabwe into a digital middle-income economy by 2030,” he added.