Youth in Zimbabwe Initiate Local Computer Laboratory Equipped with Starlink Internet Access
In the heart of Zimbabwe, a significant stride towards digital inclusion and empowerment has been made. The Mbare community, one of the country's most underserved urban areas, has seen the launch of a community computer lab, initiated by local youth. This innovative project, equipped with Starlink satellite internet connectivity, is set to bridge the digital divide and offer a wealth of opportunities for the community's young residents.
The lab, a product of the Mbare Renewal Projects, has already made a substantial impact. With 14 operational computers and an additional 30 pledged, it provides free training in basic ICT skills to local youth. To date, 68 young people have benefited from this training, with a focus on digital literacy and pathways into software engineering, programming, and data science. The aim is to equip them with marketable and future-ready skills.
The lab is more than just a digital learning centre. It serves as a digital hub, offering workstations for students, entrepreneurs, and creators. It aims to combat idleness and drug abuse by engaging young people in productive digital activities, thereby contributing to community rejuvenation. The initiative also seeks to reclaim Mbare’s positive reputation and support broader community renewal efforts.
The project enjoys strong government support. President Mnangagwa provided the computers and Starlink internet, while ministers from the ICT and Skills Development sectors champion its scaling for nationwide impact. This backing ensures resource allocation and institutional buy-in, making the project sustainable and scalable.
The Mbare Starlink community computer lab offers a replicable blueprint for similar communities across Africa. It is a community-led initiative that empowers ownership and sustainability locally. The project also demonstrates the potential for digital infrastructure partnerships, training focus on transferable digital skills, and social impact through skills empowerment. With plans to expand nationwide, this model could be adapted to other underserved African communities aiming to harness digital literacy for socio-economic transformation.
The launch event of the lab was held in Matapi and attended by Hon. Minister Paul Mavima, Deputy Minister Albert Mavunga, and representatives of the Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs office. Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of ICTPCS, applauded the youth for demonstrating digital transformation. The lab's anticipated benefits include improved communication and collaboration within the community, economic growth and innovation through increased access to digital resources, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creativity among the youth.
This development in Zimbabwe places it among a growing number of African nations using satellite solutions like Starlink to expand internet access in underserved communities. The Mbare Starlink community computer lab stands as a powerful catalyst for youth empowerment and digital inclusion in Zimbabwe, offering a scalable, government-supported, technology-enabled model that can be adapted to other underserved African communities.
- The Mbare Starlink community computer lab, with its focus on digital literacy and its partnership with Starlink satellite technology, aims to demonstrate the potential for digital infrastructure in space-and-astronomy and technology for socio-economic transformation in broad regions, such as other underserved African communities.
- As the Mbare Starlink community computer lab expands its influence nationwide, it serves as a prime example of how science and technology can play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, offering opportunities for youth and contributing to the advancement of the country in the field of ICT and software engineering.
