By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Government has engaged content creators to create localised content in Zimbabwean languages using Community Information Centres (CICs).
In his opening remarks at a two-day workshop organised by Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said the communities should benefit from structured creation of local content.
“I am sure such an initiative will not only see Community Information Centres benefitting but, going forward, institutions such as schools as well where government is providing connectivity and ICT equipment.
“In fact, the generality of the public should ultimately benefit from structured creation of local content targeting all facets of our economy,” Minister Muswere said.
He said the workshop was meant to engage content creators create localised content in local languages.
“By localised content I mean that each district would have its own content, peculiar and relevant to the communities of that district, be it content on health, education, agriculture, tourism, mining – you name it.
“This dovetails with the national devolution strategy that seeks to empower local people and makes sure that they have autonomy over their local jurisdictions,” he said.
“As such it also dovetails with the National Development Strategy One (NDS1), which emphasises the empowerment of local communities.
“Additionally, having content in local languages will improve access and use of the Internet as users will be able to identify with Internet content better.”
He, however, said there was need for the involvement of the local communities themselves.
“Therefore, I encourage you all, as you engage in this process of local content creation, to involve local stakeholders such as the traditional leadership and community leadership to also get their expectations in terms of local content.
“Involvement of such key stakeholders will make it easier to get their buy in of the project as they would have a sense of ownership. “This would make it easy for local content to be accepted by the generality of the communities,” he said.
He said the vision of the initiative would make the various Community Information Centres disseminate content that would empower, educate and guide local people in various issues around them, while proffering solutions to local problems.
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