Starlink kits gather dust at government rural hospitals as parent ministry dithers on subscription
Hundreds of Starlink internet kits provided to rural hospitals in Zimbabwe remain unused due to the government's inability to pay for ongoing subscription fees. Health officials are now seeking to tap into the Universal Service Fund to cover these costs.
Why it matters
Illustrates the challenges of implementing high-tech infrastructure in developing regions when operational costs are not fully accounted for.
HARARE, Jul. 17, (NewsDay Live) - Hundreds of Starlink kits installed at rural health centres under the government's ambitious digitisation programme are now gathering dust as the parent ministry dithers on subscription payments.
This emerged in the National Assembly this week when Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora was grilled by MPs on why the kits have not been activated so health facilities can access network services during emergencies.
Mombeshora acknowledged that more than 400 health facilities have already received Starlink kits, with 300 more facilities to be added to the list, stating the ministry was negotiating a review of the subscription fee.
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