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Networks and CD-ROMs Aid Research, Development and Education in Zimbabwe
A Critical Mass: Hayman stresses the need to "develop a
'critical mass' of hardware, software, expertise, management
skill and experience ... achieved when the activity becomes
self-sustaining and irreversible."5 We do seem to be reaching a
critical mass of knowledge on computers and communications;
more people would speed up the process. Zimbabweans
returning from education abroad, for example, are already
making a difference.
Also some of this "critical mass" is information now easily gotten
from abroad via e-mail and CD-ROM. One can, for example,
easily commit to a university project to develop sellable
software for business and industry using a "freeware" package
like Linux (a UNIX workalike for PCs); it is well supported by
an Internet SIG, and now on CD-ROM (with updates), easy to
ship to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe borders South Africa, which has great human
resources for the design, configuration and repair of computer
networks. As relations between the countries have recently
normalized, IT professionals from Johannesburg more
commonly travel to Harare for trade shows, consulting or
presentations. This will be vital for proper network planning as
well as maintenance.
The University of Zimbabwe, in its role as a regional Informatics
Centre, is poised to catalyze a tremendous bloom of
telecommunications by supporting students and staff with access
to library and reference materials and participation in worldwide
discussions.
Finally, it is extremely important to coordinate efforts, avoid
duplication of effort and be able to quickly find resource people
within the country. What better way to accomplish that than with
e-mail and easily accessible computer archives?
Tim Buxton is an American science teacher who moved into
the field of computing and telecommunications in the early days
of micros. For the past two years he has been a consultant in
educational computing and communications at the University of
Zimbabwe Computer Centre in Harare. E-mail:
buxton@zimbix.uz.zw
References:
1. Nisbet, Euan G., "Biodiversity, Science and the Dry Season:
Some Personal Thoughts as the Zimbabwe Scientific
Association Moves Towards Its Centenary," The Zimbabwe
Science News, 27(1/3), Jan/March 1993, pp. 7-12.
2. Berenfeld, Boris, "Linking East-West Schools via
Telecomputing," T.H.E. Journal, 20(6), Jan. 1993, pp. 59-62.
3. Hapanyengwi, G., Carelse, X. and Buxton, T., "Computer
Committee Recommendations on Computers & Networking at
the University of Zimbabwe," UZ Computer Committee
Document 21/94, 1994.
