Mutapa, NetOne Donate 62 Computers to Mberengwa Schools

Mutapa Energy Resources and NetOne have made a significant donation of 62 laptops and desktop computers to 10 schools in Mberengwa, Zimbabwe. The recipient schools include Chegato High School, Maringambizi and Chebvute secondary schools, and Sandawana, Chavengwa, Chizungu, Chingechuru, Mutsime, Ruvabvu, and Guruva primary schools. This initiative is part of Mutapa's corporate social responsibility programme, which focuses on the development of the Sandawana Mine in the area.

The Sandawana Mine project is expected to have a transformative impact on Mberengwa District, creating thousands of jobs and contributing to the local economy. The donation of computers is a step towards achieving Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, which aims to turn the country into an upper-middle-income society. The government's digitalisation drive seeks to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities, ensuring equal access to digital opportunities.

Mutapa chief executive Innocent Rukweza emphasized the importance of digital access for all children, stating that no child should be left behind in the digital era. He believes that every child deserves an opportunity to have access to a computer, regardless of their geographical location. Rukweza expressed his desire for schools near the mine to stand out in the education system, challenging other companies to make the Digitalise Zimbabwe ICT Schools Fair an annual event.

The Digitalise Zimbabwe ICT Schools Fair, held at Maringambizi Secondary School, brought together stakeholders to discuss the importance of digitalisation in education. Rukweza challenged NetOne, TelOne, ZETDC, and Econet to make the expo an annual event, with competitions showcasing programmes learners build on the donated computers. He also highlighted the critical need for access to electricity to enable digitalisation.

NetOne acting group chief executive Christopher Muchechemera linked the initiative to national targets, stating that it directly contributes to the attainment of Zimbabwe's Vision 2030. The vision seeks to transform the country into an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society through investment in human capital development, technological advancement, and innovation.

Under a tripartite agreement, NetOne will provide connectivity and technical support to the schools. Muchechemera emphasized that a learner's geographical location should never determine their access to digital opportunities. The company believes that digitalisation can help bridge the gap between urban and rural communities.

The donation of computers and the partnership between Mutapa and NetOne demonstrate a commitment to enhancing digital learning in rural communities. The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on education in Mberengwa District, enabling learners to access digital opportunities and compete with their peers in urban areas.

Key points

• The donation of 62 computers to 10 schools in Mberengwa District is part of Mutapa's corporate social responsibility programme.
• The initiative aims to contribute to Zimbabwe's Vision 2030, which seeks to transform the country into an upper-middle-income society.
• NetOne will provide connectivity and technical support to the schools under a tripartite agreement.