" Theme: The Role of ICT in improving governance in Geita district
The first SWOPnet forum for the year 2005 was held in Geita at Vocational Training Centre on 18/5/2005
A number of 50 participants drawn from the NGOs/CBOs sector, business people, central & local government and ICT stakeholders participated.
The participants were exposed to 3 presentations, before they were given a chance to discuss various issues raised by the presenters.
The first presentation was about the introduction of SWOPnet and its operations. It was presented by SWOPnet chairperson, Abubakar Karsan, who said that it was in its 3rd year of operation.
Participants of the forum listening attentively to the forum's proceedings.
He said that basically SWOPnet was carrying out face to face forums in the districts, with the aim of raising the awareness of stakeholders, on the utilization of information and communication technology in supporting developmental activities.
Apart from that, he further noted that, they were also conducting an asynehronious discussion, through swopnetmzaforum which has been linked to mwanzacommunity website: www.mwanzacommunity.org.
He concluded that, this year, the Geita forum was the first in the series, and that they would do 7 others forum in the district in Mwanza region.
Mwanza Community Webmaster, Joseph Msaki, introduced SWOPnetmza forum whereby members registers themselves and discuss asynchroniously on topics floated by facilitators or members. He said the forum has been provided a space with DGroups, through IICD.
H said currently the forum had 60 members who were discussing issues of development in relation to the utilization of ICTs.
Msaki urged the participants to register themselves with the forum so that they could participate in the discussions.
Silas Agustino from Mikugo Computer Centre, presented the main paper of the day entitled, "The Role of ICT in improving governance in Geita district".
One of the participants of the Geita Forum discussing a point.
He started by giving some definition of information, communication, technology and computers. He then went on explaining that in Geita people had access to 3 mobile phone operators, landline telephone network, 2 internet cafes, 3 computer training centres and 2 radio broadcasts. All have contributed immensely to improve governance in the districts, he noted.
Concluding his remarks, he identified some problems that were hindering full utilization of ICT, in improving governance in the district. Those problems are lack of knowledge on how to use ICT, scarcity of computers, people refusing to adopt change, unreliable electricity and high cost of purchasing computers and accessories.
After that an intensive debate ensued. The participants expressed their gratitude to SWOPnet Mwanza Chapter to conduct the forum in their district.
They expressed their enthusiasm to learn more about the importance of ICT in bringing development.
Moreover they identified some obstacles which according to them, hinders the development of ICT in Geita. Those obstacles are unreliable internet access, high computer training costs, lack of skills to use computers, lack of awareness among people and leaders on ICT, poor roads, poverty and lack of electricity in rural areas.
In an effort to finding solutions to those obstacles, they formed a 10 people committee, which will work closely with SWOPnet Mwanza Chapter.
Members of the committee formed to speed up utilization of ICT in development processes in a group picture.
Those elected people are Sadock Sadick Chairperson and Suzan Kisenha, Secretary. Other committee members are Ludmila Kamenya, Esther Nicholas, Silas Agustino, David Azaria, Bosco Buhange, Hostana Ulotu, Simon Kulwa and Regina Bamugika.
