Minister of ICT,
Hon. Nelson Chamisa
Government
Ministers here present
Members of the
Diplomatic Corps
Senior Government
officials here present,
Secretary for
ICT, Eng. S.M. Kundishora
Captains of
Industry
Local and foreign
exhibitors
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
It is my honour
and privilege to join you today to celebrate the developments in the
Information Communication Technology sector.ICTs play the critical role of
interlinking the different sectors of the economy, linking the vast continents
and connecting people worldwide for business, social or research purposes. With
ICTs the world is at your click.
Our
meeting today under the theme: "Exploiting the potential of ICTs for
sustainable socio and economic transformation", is testimony that without
ICTs there can never be change in our people's livelihoods.
This conference
and exhibition, which I am informed will become an annual event is a very
important step towards turning Zimbabwe into an information society.As
Government, we have adopted a policy to make ICTs the central hub to connect
the Medium Term Plan, the Millenium Development Goals and other programmes that
bring social change to the people of Zimbabwe.
We want ICTs to
play a central role in societal transformation and this exhibition is to
highlight the importance of developing a conscious ICTs policy.
Ladies and
Gentlemen, allow me to pay tribute to our exhibitors, from as far as Mauritius
and our neighbours South Africa, for gracing this event. Your presence warms up
our spirits and proves that ICTs bring us together.
The role of
information communication technology in improving the lives of the people
cannot be underestimated. Many people, more than ever before, are now exposed
to ICTs one way or the other, buying goods and services online, sending messages
across the globe or sending emails to business counterparts worldwide.
This means that
ICTs are at the heart of almost everything we do. The ICTs sector is one of the
critical sectors of the economy.
The
computerization programme that the Government through the Ministry of ICTs is
spearheading will ensure visibility of ICTs to marginalised communities,
connecting them with the rest of the world at a click. The programme has since
incorporated e-learning software where the computers are now used as effective
learning tools.
The
e-learning concept was launched at Chogugudza School in Domboshwa and John
Landa Nkomo school in Tsholotsho. The e-learning concept's primary focus is to
reduce the economic, social and educational inequalities existing in our
communities. If successfully implemented, the e-learning concept will bridge
the digital divide and improve our children's exposure to the global family.
The recently
introduced Community Information Centres will serve as one stop ICTs access
points. It would be noble to make these centres e-government access points and
support our efforts for e-government development.
Ladies and
Gentlemen, ICTs are a critical tool in efforts to eradicate poverty, enhance
human development, and achieve the U.N. Millennium
Development Goals. In pursuit
of this, Zimbabwe has made huge strides in fibre optic developments. Access to
ICTs and particularly the internet can provide an even bigger boost to economic
growth.
The
developments in the ICTs sector require an enabling environment directed by a
regulatory framework that promotes growth and investment. In this regard, the
Government is currently reviewing the Zimbabwe National ICT Policy to bring it
in tandem with international best practices.
This policy is
crucial if we are to make our ICTs sector vibrant. It is therefore my appeal to
you stakeholders to take advantage of the review process and make
representations to shape your industry. It is essential that Zimbabwe has an
enabling environment for ICTs development and use.
On that note,
Ladies and Gentlemen, I declare this inaugural e-Tech Africa Conference and
Exhibition officially opened.
I thank you.
Movement for Democratic
Change (Harare)