The Role of Community Based Information Centres in Development: Lessons for Rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

Community based information proposals from the library profession in Zimbabwe should in theory fit well with government strategic goals for a “knowledge based society”. In reality, information technology has opened floodgates for international and national development by bringing in a plethora of community based information systems and services. This paper highlights developmental issues initiated by different community based information centres. It defines community, information, rural development and enunciates on community centers throughout their evolution to the modern community based information centres. The premise of the paper is that establishing community based information centres in Zimbabwean rural areas will strengthen and empower rural people to be among global players. The major scale of this paper is to provide platforms for erecting these centres in rural Zimbabwe for the purpose of providing everyone with useful, practical information for daily chores. Rural Zimbabwe has a bigger share in national and international development which can be achieved by harnessing community based information systems and services. Despite low level penetration of community based centres in Zimbabwe, the Matabeleland South initiatives have capacitated Zimbabweans to follow the trend. The centres should be spread throughout the country and provide information for development. Community based information centres can play a significant role in meeting social economic targets for rural people by connecting, empowering rural populace to developmental floodgates. The paper finally shows how community information based centres complement support for the government and agencies in resource sharing and enhances the services available through such centres. Keywords: information, information technology, rural development, and community based information centres: Zimbabwe.

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