By A Correspondent

Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, the Minister of ICT, has made a significant contribution to education in Masvingo by donating Core i5 laptops and a Starlink kit during the ZANU-PF Thank You Rally at Gwengavi Primary School in Masvingo West constituency on Saturday.

This donation aims to empower students with digital tools and promote digital literacy, ensuring the youth have the necessary resources to thrive in the future.

However, despite the commendable gesture, concerns are rising that prolonged power outages and the ongoing load shedding crisis could severely limit the impact of Mavetera’s donation.

With power outages being a persistent issue across the country, the laptops and Starlink kit may remain underutilized if there is no reliable electricity to charge or operate the devices.

While the donation to Gwengavi Primary School and 15 additional schools in Masvingo is a positive step toward improving digital infrastructure, the chronic power shortages in Zimbabwe pose a significant obstacle.

The lack of consistent electricity to power these new technologies could render the initiative ineffective, as students and teachers may find themselves unable to use the equipment on a regular basis.

The issue of load shedding has affected various sectors, including education, making it difficult for schools to fully embrace technological advancements.

Even with the provision of modern gadgets, the success of such initiatives is undermined when the power supply remains unreliable.

Minister Mavetera’s efforts to enhance Zimbabwe’s digital infrastructure are indeed commendable, but without addressing the root issue of consistent power supply, the long-term effectiveness of these initiatives may be compromised.

The government must prioritize solutions to the ongoing power crisis to ensure that such donations can truly benefit the future generation and contribute to the country’s digital transformation.