Stakeholders Update March 2005

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Created: Tuesday, 15 March 2005 00:00

Tonga.Online Project continues sharing with you the heat of Binga, in which people are still devoted to their learning and development. We are therefore happy to report that the Tonga.Online objectives are still being met! TWALUMBA!

THE TEAM The office is happily corresponding with partners for the best responses to community needs. Penny Yon is coordinating and working on accounts and fund-raising in Harare, networking with important IT contacts in the IT industry for development. The project team on the ground in Binga area has settled down with personnel changes in the Syanzyundu ITC. Notie Sianyuka has taken up an opportunity to resume her IT Training at Joshua Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda and we have attached Clement Mungombe, an IT student from Bulawayo Polytechnic. Please welcome and work with him. Notie will contribute her services to the project under special arrangements during holidays.

BINGA ITC The Binga ITC graduated seven more trainees on their completion of the basic computer course. The community is still enjoying Internet, typing and printing services after the replacement of a modem in January. A Binga ZRP Public Relations Office representative has been invited into the Binga ITC management committee as an ex-officio member of the committee. The management committee will hold a meeting in March after all co-opted members will have had access to the new constitution.

SIACHILABA ITC The Siachilaba ITC is still in operation with its four computers working. It is unfortunate that TelOne lines are not functional in the area for the ITC to provide for internet services. The school and community are enjoying typing and printing services. Children have been introduced to computer games and this has really attracted them to computers and increased their interest in learning. While Theo Sianyuka is mostly assisting in the office, Siachilaba Primary teacher Norman Mudimba, who was trained by the Tonga.Online project, facilitated the training of two members of the community this month. Before her departure, Notie assessed the progress of the training and advertising continues.

SYANZYUNDU ITC Unfortunately the Centre has not yet been serviced with a line-limiter that will protect the computers from electricity surges and 'spikes'. Communication on the visit of the technical support team from Arachnid / Bulawayo is at an advanced stage, and everything is being done to remedy the situation. In the meantime, one computer is used to service mostly the school. The expected school-leaver training using Alpha Smarts was not conducted because the trainer fell sick and failed to mobilize. We look forward to developments with the new resource person, Clement.