Tinotenda Hove – Minister of Information Communication Technology, Tatenda Mavetera, says the government is intensifying efforts to bridge the digital divide by deploying computers and Starlink internet kits to rural district councils and local authorities across Zimbabwe.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mavetera described the move as a critical step in ensuring that no village is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey.

“As we journey towards our digital transformation agenda of empowering every corner through ICT services in Zimbabwe, our Ministry deployed firstly computers and secondly Starlink kits to all our Rural District Councils and local authorities,” said Mavetera.

She emphasized that the Starlink kits—provided through the controversial satellite internet provider—will help close connectivity gaps in underserved areas, ensuring rural communities have access to essential online services.

“Starlink kits will bridge connectivity gaps in our rural district councils. No village should be left offline,” she said.

In a related development, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works held a sensitisation workshop to unpack the recently adopted Minimum Service Delivery Standards and Stateland Management Policy. The event also marked the launch of a Minimum Service Delivery Standards Dashboard, a digital platform aimed at providing real-time data and promoting transparency in public service delivery.

The dashboard is expected to enhance e-government services and strengthen accountability mechanisms at local authority level.

“These efforts are about closing the digital divide and fueling #Vision2030 through #DigitalizeZimbabwe,” Mavetera added.

The Ministry’s latest rollout aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 agenda, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy through innovation, technology, and inclusive development. However, questions remain about the sustainability, regulatory clarity, and reach of Starlink’s operations in Zimbabwe following past legal ambiguities.

Nonetheless, officials insist that the digitalisation agenda remains non-negotiable if rural communities are to fully participate in national development.