Johnson Progress

The Government of Zimbabwe, with support from UNICEF, has handed over state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to Gqalaza Primary School in rural Gwanda.

The handover ceremony, held on January 16, 2026, underscores a national policy to embed digital skills from the foundational level of education.

Presiding over the event, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, framed the initiative as a critical investment in the nation’s future.

She declared that the event was about far more than the physical transfer of devices.

“Today’s event is not merely about transferring computers and devices; it is about transferring opportunity, hope, and future readiness to our children,” Minister Mavetera stated.

The Minister emphasized that the government is deliberately targeting primary schools to ensure digital inclusion begins early.

She said rural institutions must be central to Zimbabwe’s digital transformation, a sentiment she reinforced in isiNdebele, directly addressing parents and educators.

“Bazali, babalisi labantwana, uHulumende uthi abantwana bemaphandleni kumele bathole amathuba afana labantwana basemadolobheni,” she said, affirming that children in rural areas must access the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.

The handover follows closely on the commissioning of an ICT Hub at Jiti High School earlier in the week, demonstrating, according to the Minister, the translation of government policy into tangible action across provinces.

She explained that this inter-ministerial collaboration between her ministry and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is driven by the Whole-of-Government Approach championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Minister Mavetera outlined a clear vision for the equipped schools, describing them as incubation centres for advanced digital skills.

She connected this directly to Zimbabwe’s broader economic ambitions under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.

“Zimbabwe must consciously build its own Beta Generation,” she said, referencing a generation fluent in interacting with intelligent systems.

“We will do so from the classroom, from the teacher, from the child holding a computer mouse for the first time.”

Acknowledging that equipment alone is insufficient, the Minister noted ongoing government investments in ICT skills training for educators.

She again switched to isiNdebele to drive home the point: “Siyazi ukuthi imitshina yodwa kayeneli. Yingakho uhulumende eqhubeka ngokufundisa abantwana nge-ICT,” meaning that machines alone are not enough, hence the continuous training.

The Minister extended sincere gratitude to UNICEF for its consistent partnership, highlighting the role of development partners in accelerating social and economic development.

She also issued a call to action for the private sector, urging Zimbabwean companies to support the government’s school capacitation efforts, as they have a direct stake in the skills pipeline being built.

The event was attended by senior government officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of State for Provincial Affairs, alongside local leadership, educators, learners, and community members.