The Computer Society of Zimbabwe (CSZ) was founded in 1974 with one objective, that of benefitting the Computer Industry and all people who work in it. The Society's aims were to educate the general public on the use and development of Electronic Data Processing, today more widely known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It set itself up to bring people using computers together, to set up standards within the industry and to promote computers and their use in scientific and commercial environments. Since its formation , CSZ has indeed played a leading role in ICT development , creating public awareness and focussing on education, professionalism and advising Government and other national bodies.
Role in Education:
As early as 1975, CSZ was responsible for the introduction of the first Computer Studies Diploma at the Harare and Bulawayo Polytechnics – the diploma was, the fore-runner to the current HND. The first lecturers and examiners were all drawn from the CSZ membership , eventually being replaced by fulltime college staff. Originally the students were confined to those actually working in the industry but with the advent of PCs in the 1980’s there was a far wider demand for training and education, and CSZ reacted accordingly by running its own courses and starting an accreditation scheme for bona fide training providers.
Turning its attention to the schools , and especially the rural schools, CSZ partnered with World Links , a World Bank sponsored organization which established ICT training centres in all provinces of the country. World Links is still operating to the best of its ability although severe reductions in funding have regrettably curtailed many of its activities. Lastly since 1999, CSZ has been administering the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) in an endeavour to promote the level of computer literacy and operating competency nation-wide. ICDL has proved very popular with more than 45000 individuals in Zimbabwe undergoing the training and certification, and now offers employers an international standard by which they can validate computer skills of all PC users throughout their organisations. World-wide, over nine million people have participated in the ICDL.
Professionalism:
CSZ sets standards for its members , not only for their own benefit, but also to give assurance to those who employ, or retain the services of, CSZ members. Members are graded according to educational achievement and experience and all are subject to a Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. There is a laid-down Complaints Procedure to deal with any perceived transgressions of the Codes and this applies not only to individual members but also to the Institutional Members. The latter are made up of corporates, parastatals, government departments , which being large users of ICT , have an interest in the welfare of the industry as a whole. CSZ members also have the opportunity to attend an annual Summer School where they are updated by experts on various ICT-related topics and where they are able to share experiences with their peers in the industry. Naturally, CSZ encourages all employers to insist on CSZ membership for all their ICT staff and the public generally to only retain CSZ members for services rendered.
National issues:
CSZ has always worked closely with Government and through its participation with the NECF has been at the forefront of the recent developments which led to the establishment of the national ICT Strategy Framework. Senior members of the Society continue to give their time voluntarily for this and other important national projects – there is still much to be done.
CSZ also works closely with the Computer Suppliers Association of Zimbabwe (COMSA), whose members are the leading suppliers of ICT products and services and who are also bound by that Association’s own Code of Ethics. Like CSZ, COMSA is keen for its members to be seen as providing professional services to the public, who would therefore be well advised to use COMSA members for their ICT product and service requirements.
International links:
CSZ became a full member of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) in 1987.
IFIP is the leading multinational, apolitical organization in Information & Communications Technologies and Sciences
Ø is recognised by United Nations and other world bodies
Ø represents IT Societies from 56 countries or regions, covering all 5 continents with a total membership of over half a million
Ø links more than 3500 scientists from academia and Industry, organised in more than 101 Working Groups reporting to 13 Technical Committees
Ø sponsors 100 conferences yearly providing unparalleled coverage from theoretical informatics to the relationship between informatics and society including hardware and software technologies, and networked information systems
IFIP maintains a very informative website is at www.ifip.or.at
CSZ was privileged to host IFIP’s General Assembly in Harare back in 1991 and CSZ’s Director held the position of Trustee and later Vice President of IFIP for a number of years. Several major IFIP working conferences concerning Education and Communications have also taken place in Zimbabwe. CSZ also had membership of three IFIP Technical Committees, namely Education, Communication Systems and Information Security. CSZ,s Director continues as a member of the last, which has been renamed “Security and Protection in Information Processing Systems”
There is no doubt that this strong connection with the international community has benefited CSZ and assisted in its national endeavours.
CSZ also enjoys strong bi-lateral relations with both the British and South African Computer Societies.
Structure:
CSZ is governed by an elected eight-member national council, half of whom retire each year. The council in turn is led by a President and Vice President, with various portfolios being assigned to the remaining members – each portfolio’s aims and objectives are documented in the Society’s charters. The Society’s membership year runs from July to June and the current President and Vice President are Mr Pardon Gorova and Mr Atwell Mukusha respectively.
Contact with the members is through the Secretariat in Harare and also through the local Chapters in Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru.
Each Chapter is controlled by an elected Chapter Committee of eight members including a Chairman who is automatically a member of the national council – all three Chapters are currently seeking additional members for their committees and interested persons should contact the CSZ secretariat (contact details below).
The Harare Chapter arranges regular evening functions for members and their guests, featuring interesting speakers on relevant topics and is also responsible for the annual Summer School which normally takes place at Nyanga. For information about the Bulawayo and Gweru Chapters contact the Secretariat.
The Secretariat, under the leadership of the Executive Director , Mr Geoff Fairall, has the joint responsibility of supporting the Society and administering the ICDL programme, and is located at 6 Baines Avenue in Harare, telephones (04)250489/90. Email inquiries should be addressed to info@csz.org.zw.
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