By Staff Reporter

HARARE – Most people who reside in rural areas find it difficult to have access to online channels to freely express themselves and have access to information pertaining to their human rights and governance matters.

According to a study done by Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) and Media Centre titled “Internet Freedom Challenges in Rural Areas: Digital Discrimination”, little or no progress has been made by the government of Zimbabwe to allow the enjoyment of internet freedoms mainly in rural areas.

The study notes that due to lack of infrastructure in rural areas internet penetration rate is not the same among people living in rural and urban areas. In spite of the government’s plans to set up rural information centres and mobile vans units people in rural areas are still heavily affected by grave lack of information.

High speed broadband coverage is still patchy with most rural and remote areas remaining uncovered due to non-holistic approach to universal service. According to the study this is broadening the urban-rural digital divide against the principle of equitable access.

“The government of Zimbabwe has successfully failed to incorporate digital technology in the country’s education curriculum over the years. Therefore the level of digital literacy at grassroots level is very low to stimulate service uptake and usage, especially in rural areas”.

“Lack of knowledge has also contributed to rural communities not enjoying their internet rights. Most Zimbabwean citizens residing in rural areas are technologically backward when it comes to using internet exercising and promoting their rights”

To enhance free exercise of internet freedoms in rural communities under the current political, legal and socio-economic situation in the country the study recommends the government to speed up the process of constructing sufficient and effective information and communication infrastructure in rural areas.

“There is need for the civil society to (i) lobby for an internet governance framework to deal with the management of national and international internet traffic both in rural and urban areas (ii) conduct civic education forums at grassroots levels and road shows (iii) create dense networking systems using modern ICTs through which to share ideas, skills and disseminate information and establish solutions to internet freedom challenges in rural areas”.

“There is need for the private sector to collaborate with the government and civil society to find best lasting solutions on protecting and promoting internet freedoms in rural areas”.

Find Full Report on: http://www.zimsentinel.com/?p=3050