Community Development Trajectory in Zimbabwe through Establishment of Information Centres. A Case of Chinhoyi, Mashona Land West Province

Alex Sibanda, Pamela Wadzanai Musakwa, Edward Mupfururi and Pertunia Ngidi
Additional contact information
Alex Sibanda: Zimbabwe Open University, Lecturer Department of Information Science and Records Management, Chinhoyi Public Service Training Centre, P.O Box 285 Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
Pamela Wadzanai Musakwa: Chinhoyi Information Centre, Facilitator, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
Edward Mupfururi: Zimbabwe Open University, Administrative Assistant, Zvishavane District Midlands Regional Campus P.O Box 1810 Gweru, Zimbabwe.
Pertunia Ngidi: Zimbabwe Open University, Lecturer Department of Information Science and Records Management, Manica Land Regional Campus, 992 C Avenue Mutare, Zimbabwe.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2023, vol. 7, issue 3, 450-461

Abstract: This study sought to examine the impact of Community Information Centres (CICs) in promoting socio-economic developments in Zimbabwe’s communities after the massive establishment across the country in 2016. The mixed methodology approach was ideal for this research as the researchers sought to interpret whether CICs were empowering the community with information, knowledge and bridging the digital divide gap between cities and township communities in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from users (community) of the Mashonaland West Province, community information centre in Chinhoyi town through questionnaires and interviews. The study respondents were76 participants out of the 100 targeted monthly users of the Mashona land West Province, community information centre in Chinhoyi town. The convenient sampling technique was employed in this study. The findings of the study revealed that Chinhoyi community information centre was not adequately developing the community due to inadequate infrastructure and poor internet connectivity. Thus, for example Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) infrastructure, such as computers were a scarcity tool to the users resulting in the sharing of these gadgets or taking turns to use the machines. This in turn negatively affected the service delivery at Chinhoyi community information centre. This study discovered that Chinhoyi community information centre is however slowly developing the community, despite the challenges faced. The study recommends that the Government of Zimbabwe in conjunction withPostal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) must fully fund and adequately resource community information centres with latest ICTs infrastructure and provide enough bandwidth. Lastly, this study recommends that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies must set aside a budget for construction of purposely built community information centres. Through such an act, provision of good service delivery at the information centres can be achieved thereby promoting rapid and effective development in communities.

Date: 2023
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