THE Second Republic is working out strategies to improve access to ICTs, digital literacy and mobile phone connectivity as part of a concerted drive to create a digital economy by 2030, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, has said.
This is in the spirit of “leaving no one and no place behind”, the development mantra of President Mnangagwa.
Minister Mavetera said Government remained concerned with digital inequity between rural and urban areas and was currently working out ways of ensuring affordability of internet services to make sure the majority of Zimbabweans get access as Zimbabwe journeys towards becoming an upper middle income society by 2030.
She was speaking at Chivi Growth Point yesterday during the joint commemoration of the World Post Day and the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The annual celebrations were held jointly by the Ministries of ICT, Postal and Courier Services and of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. The joint theme was, “The Importance of online space and universal access to information for a safe and connected future”.
Minister Mavetera said the Second Republic was seized with the problem of poor network connectivity.
“We are concerned about the issue of connectivity and affordability of services, especially internet services and mobile phone network services. We are also aware of consumer issues within the ICT sector such as poor network connectivity. Sometimes consumers have to endure with mobile phones that lose connection abruptly while the cost of mobile phone charges is also very high which militates against President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
“As a ministry and Government we have started engagements with mobile phone network operators and Potraz to come up with ways of making sure that issues of connectivity, access and affordability are addressed so that the majority of Zimbabweans can communicate without hindrance from any part of the country,’’ she said.
Government through the Ministry of ICTs, Postal and Courier Services was also developing infrastructure in all parts of Zimbabwe so that communities in all parts of the country are part of the digital economy which is envisioned by the year 2030.
“Let me reassure you that our Government continues to ‘value online space and universal access to information’, which are prerequisites to a safe and connected future. As we look forward to achieving ‘an information society by 2030’, our Government will continue developing digital literacy and empowering our communities to understand the emerging technologies.
“We will also contribute to ongoing discussions around governance and ethics to ensure ICTs are reflective of community values. Instead of exclusively looking to ‘big tech companies’, we intend to foster community-led innovation by engaging our local universities, tech enthusiasts, and other organisations to explore collaborative and locally relevant emerging tech initiatives.’’
She lamented that while the internet penetration rate had scaled above the 50 percent mark in the country, the majority of the population in Zimbabwe remained “offline’’.
“The Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services is involved with the ICT development of this country and beyond in terms of ICT governance, that is, policies and regulations; infrastructure development, to provide ubiquitous and robust access as well as applications development; and cyber security.
“We strive to ensure that we leave no one and no place behind as we journey towards the attainment of the National Development Strategy (NDS1 and its successor NDS2) and, in particular, the Digital Economy by 2030. We are committed to fulfilling this vision as entrusted to us by President Mnangagwa,’’ said Minister Mavetera.
The Minister said it was imperative to digitise the country’s postal system to circumvent challenges stifling the growth of the sector and meet the demands of today’s tech-savvy customers.
There was also a need to adopt a whole of Government approach where Government ministries and departments collaborate and make sure Community Information Centres opened by the Ministry of ICTs, Postal and Courier Services around the country become one stop shops.
Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said his ministry has a close relationship with the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services as the growth of sectors and the purview of the two ministries were interlinked with relaying and reception of information dependent on things like connectivity and affordability of mobile phone network and internet services for all parts of Zimbabwe to be covered.
Minister Mavetera had earlier on opened a Community Information Centre and a Public Finance Management System Kiosk at Chivi Growth Point. The two facilities are in line with the Government’s thrust to bring services closer to the people and also to ensure efficiency in the running of Government operations.
Mrs Brenda Mushonga of Silver City location at Chivi Growth point said the opening of the Community Information centre in the district was a boon for small scale traders like her who would be able to advertise their products via the internet.
According to Mr Ashel Gwangava of Matowe village under Chief Madyangove, the opening of the information centre showed President Mnangagwa was committed to Vision 2030.
“This is a good development for us young people in rural Chivi because we can now do our research on the internet which makes is easier for us to continue with our studies and excel.’’
Mr Kudzai Madambi of Madambi village in the same area, said the new community information centre was an opportunity for both young people and adults to research, adding that they can now even communicate easily with relatives and friends in other parts of Zimbabwe and beyond via the internet.
The joint commemorations also saw companies under the purview of the two ministries exhibiting in Chivi where they explained the services they offer to the general public as part of the commemorations. Ministers Muswere and Mavetera first toured all the stands where the companies were exhibiting.
Present at the celebrations were top government officials among them Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana, ZMC chairperson Professor Ruby Magosvongwe among others.
The Public Management System Kiosk will be used by Government departments across Chivi and is part of the Second Republic’s drive to enhance accountability, transparency and efficiency in sync with Vision 2030.
At least 14 new community information centres are under construction around Zimbabwe as the Second Republic entrenches access to ICTs.
Herald
