By Meekness Mutero, Secretary General, Taura ICT Co-op

In every home today, information and communication technology (ICT) has become as important as food, water, or electricity. Families now spend large amounts of their budgets on smartphones, internet bundles, laptops, TVs, streaming subscriptions, and even repairs. This is not just a trend in Zimbabwe but across the whole world—people are investing more and more in digital tools because they are essential for school, work, entertainment, banking, and staying connected. Even when times are tough, very few people stop spending on their phones or data. Instead, they search for better deals and affordable ways to keep connected.

This reality shows why ICT retail and consumer cooperatives are needed. A consumer cooperative is a business that is owned by the people who buy from it. Instead of profits going to outside shareholders, they either come back to members as savings or are reinvested to improve services. Imagine if your community bought smartphones, data devices, or even TVs together through a co-op: you would get them at a lower price because of bulk buying, and the money you spend would come back to the same community instead of being taken away by big foreign-owned companies.

The power of a co-op comes from working together. When many people buy as one, suppliers listen and give discounts. This reduces the cost for every household. It also means the co-op can demand better quality products and provide after-sales services, such as training, repairs, or digital literacy classes. Instead of each family struggling alone, the co-op becomes a trusted partner for the whole community.

Another advantage is that co-ops can design creative ways for members to benefit financially. One example is through commissions on sales. A member of the co-op, or even a trusted person in the community, can act as a sales agent. When they help someone buy a product through the co-op, they earn a small commission. This is not just good for the agent—it also saves the co-op money because it does not need to spend heavily on advertising. In turn, the overall prices for products can be kept lower. This way, everyone wins: the buyer saves money, the community agent earns extra income, and the co-op grows stronger.

For communities, this model makes perfect sense. ICT is no longer a luxury—it is a daily need. A cooperative approach helps households get the technology they need at a fair price, while also ensuring that the economic benefits stay in the community. Instead of money leaving the country or being swallowed up by big corporations, it circulates among members. That strengthens families, builds local economies, and gives people more control over the tools they depend on.

Taura ICT Co-op believes that ICT co-ops are the future. They make technology more affordable, create local jobs, and bring fairness to an industry that often leaves ordinary people with high costs and little say. By coming together, we can ensure that the digital future is shaped by the community, for the community.