Offline System on the cards for CICs

An offline system has been tabled for the Community Information Centres (CICs) in order to provide information to communities that might not have access to the Internet.

With the challenge of internet access in some parts of the country, the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Carrier Services has developed an offline system that can be used on computers even when there is no internet access.

In a recent interview , Commuications Officer Mrs Mhonderwa Bridget in the of ICT, Postal and Carrier Services Ministry noted that the software would be inculcated into the CICs.

"The system was developed by one of our software developers in the Ministry. The system has not yet been launched, but we are still having discussions surrounding it.

It will particularly help those areas where there is no access to internet. People can actually be using their computers to access other important information from that offline system.

The system developer, Brian Maseta noted that one of the systems could provide large amounts of information on particular topics.

"Currently, there are two prototypes, one is on career guidance and the other on Agriculture. Basically the system will have a set of possible questions that surround particular areas,

"The user will then select the question he thinks will answer his or her questions."

Currently information from different ministries is being collected in order to file it into the system. The systems can also be used by students and individuals in urban areas.

The CICs programme is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services .

Each of the country's 52 Districts is expected to have such information centers.