Hurungwe — Hurungwe East legislator Chenjerai Kangausaru has donated Starlink satellite internet kits to five primary schools in his constituency, in a move aimed at bridging the digital divide and aligning with the government’s nationwide drive to connect rural learning institutions.

The kits were handed over to Aldonyo Primary School in Ward 19, Kasimure Primary School in Ward 6, Tengwe Chimusimbe Primary School in Ward 5, Chanetsa Primary School, and Karoi Enterprises Primary School.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kangausaru said access to the internet was no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern education.

“The digital divide is no longer merely a technological issue. It is a matter of social justice, economic empowerment and the realisation of the constitutional mandate to provide quality education for all,” the legislator said.

He noted that rural communities, particularly those in remote areas, have long encountered significant connectivity barriers, limiting their participation in the digital economy and access to essential services.

“In today’s rapidly evolving digital age, technology access is no longer a luxury, but a necessity,” Kangausaru added.

Government’s rural digital push

The donation comes as the government accelerates efforts to equip rural schools with modern ICT tools under the Presidential Internet Scheme, which aims to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to all 2 400 administrative wards across Zimbabwe.

Under the scheme, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has handed over 2 000 Starlink gadgets to boost connectivity at schools, clinics and police camps in areas where there is no internet connectivity.

ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera is on record saying the programme is designed to reach underserved areas using low-earth orbit satellite technology.

“We previously had programmes where we used fibre to connect various places across the country, but we realised that there was a need to adopt the various technologies that are coming up, especially the low earth orbit satellites, and see how best we can reach out, especially to under-served areas,” Minister Mavetera said.

The Presidential Internet Scheme will connect schools, clinics and all courts, including traditional courts, as part of a broader strategy to ensure no community is left behind in the digital transformation agenda.

In addition to the Presidential Scheme, the government has in recent months rolled out Starlink kits to schools across several provinces, including Masvingo, Zvimba, Guruve and Mberengwa, under the “leaving no one and no place behind” mantra.

The Postal Savings Bank (POSB) has also launched a collateral-free loan facility of up to US$10 000 to help schools finance the purchase and installation of Starlink kits.

Kangausaru, who earlier this year moved a motion in Parliament urging the government to accelerate digital inclusion and artificial intelligence integration in the education system, described his donation as part of a broader effort to complement national programmes.

“Zimbabwe, like many developing nations, faces a growing digital divide between regions. Urban centres enjoy better access to reliable internet, digital devices and technological infrastructure while rural communities, particularly those in remote areas, encounter significant connectivity barriers,” he said.

He added that for many learners in rural areas, access to the internet remains unattainable due to economic challenges and infrastructure limitations, a gap his initiative seeks to close.

The kits have been installed at the respective schools by the technicians provided by the government.