Binga ICT4D Seminar

 In the second half of September the yearly project visit by AZFA, Horizont3000 and Kunzwana Trust successfully came through. A number of meetings were held in Harare, Bulawayo and in Binga with Local Authorities, Management Committees and stakeholders of Syanzyundu, Siachilaba and Binga ITCs. Binga Rural District Development Committee and its Science and Technology Subcommittee invited for an "ICT for Development" Seminar to summarise the findings of a series of ITC stakeholder workshops and to work out a strategy on the way forward:

The district calls for a local area network for all computer centers including those initiated by Government recently and the District Education Office. Horizont3000 and AZFA are committed to provide for technical support for a full network on Binga district level.  Horizont 3000 will also provide an ICT technician from Austria in early 2006 to service and train local staff for the operations and maintenance of all ITCs.

There is need to establish more ITCs to cover all school clusters in Binga district. AZFA is prepared to assist in sourcing hardware and the ministry of education reported that it will provide for qualified IT teachers.

Management committees need to hold more regular meetings to ensure accountability and proper use and management of donated equipment.

The School based ITCs are committed to offer "access for all" and media literacy to local stakeholders and the community at large.

The Seminar was chaired by the District Administrator Mr C. Siabenzu Mutale and attended by 36 stakeholders and guests from different Ministries, NGO´s, Headmasters, including those that have applied for assistance from Tonga.Online, furthermore the Regional Director of Education for Mat. North, Mr. A.B.Dube and the Chiefs Saba, Siachilaba and Sinasengwe.

David Mungombe
Tonga.Online Project Coordinator, Binga