High Telecommunications tariffs and their effect on widening the digital divide in urban communities of Zimbabwe

The high telecommunications tariffs being levied by telecommunications service providers in the country have contributed to the continued widening of the digital divide within urban centres of Zimbabwe. I believe that it is due to these high tariffs that potential investors in instruments of technology and empowerment in the 21st century such as internet Cafes are reluctant to open information kiosks in high density suburbs. My personal conviction is that they believe that residents of high density suburbs cannot afford the current tariffs being levied by telecommunication service providers and hence establishing an information kiosk in high density suburbs is akin to business suicide.

Imagine a suburb such as Mzilikazi with a population of over 10 000 people it does not have a single internet Café. This is puzzling in the 21st century were virtual e-technology is the main aider of life processes.

I will illustrate my point on the power of the internet with a specific and deliberate focus on youths. Young people of today, and of course those resident in Mzilikazi have a wish to access relevant information from a multivariate of sources for various purposes which include academic, job opportunities, study opportunities within and without Zimbabwe and to continuously share experiences with fellow youth across the globe and friends and relatives who have migrated from Zimbabwe and are scattered across the earth.

The internet offers cheaper, reliable and faster means of communication. If young people can access the internet, I believe that the potential of the internet as an incubator of knowledge unleashes greater opportunities to young people in high density suburbs. Maybe after all if they could access the internet and find out what other people are doing across the world and the potential for success that they have in this world that they have, we can start to see a more responsible and mature youth which contributes effectively to national development processes.
The only institution at this particular moment which can aid the process of faster digitalization of Zimbabwe is the government. The government must open up the telecommunications industry and allow for new investors to come on board. This move has twin advantages of lowering the tariffs and also improving the quality of service. I will support my point by illustrating the example of South Africa. Competition in the telecommunications industry has greatly lowered tariffs and has improved the quality of service compared to many African nations. However, there have been complaints in South Africa on the quality of service provided mobile service communications provided. May be soon our government will see light…