adminThe project, which is part of the fruits of the country’s Look East Policy, will be the nerve centre of the southern region’s telecommunications system.
It is expected to greatly improve network reliability, availability and security in the region.
It will also enable NetOne subscribers to access and use Internet services on their mobile phones.
The equipment and technology used on the system was provided by Chinese company, Huawei, which is the world’s second largest supplier of telecommunications equipment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony that was held at the NetOne plant in Ascot, President Mugabe said the project came about as a result of a US$45 million loan from China Export and Import Bank.
He said the upgrading of telecommunications facilities was also expected to boost the revival of industries in Bulawayo.
“Since its inception in 1996, we have been committed to making NetOne an integral player in the telecommunications field in Zimbabwe. Today, we happily witness the result of that commitment,” said President Mugabe.
He said the country had been a victim of unjustified sanctions which had delayed economic programmes in the country.
“As a sovereign Government, we looked to our all-weather friends. The Chinese have become our biggest supplier of farming equipment, clothing, automobiles and other things,” said President Mugabe.
He said the country would continue to look east as the policy had borne fruit indicating that Zimbabwe had been right to turn its back on the West.
“Even so-called Western powers have looked to the east. China has invested US$1,3 trillion in bonds in the US. If it were to demand payment, the US would collapse in a day,” said President Mugabe.
He said he was not denigrating the US because everything he was saying had been published by the US government.
“Their local authorities are even failing to maintain roads,” said President Mugabe.
The President said thanks to the launch, the country’s southern region would now be able to use the Internet in e-education at schools, e-health at hospitals and e-government.
“I would like to thank the NetOne board for working hard to bring this project to fruition. I would also like to thank the Chinese government for helping in keeping NetOne, the flagship telecommunications company, growing. We hope this project will be part of the revival of Bulawayo,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Xin Shunkang, pledged his country’s continued support to Zimbabwe. “We will always stand by Zimbabwe in development to make the future of our partnership bright. This project is supported by the concessional law of the Chinese government and is another example of co-operation between the two governments,” said Ambassador Xin.
NetOne board member Dr Calistus Ndlovu said the emergence of China as an economic power had helped developing countries like Zimbabwe.
NetOne presented the President and the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, with items that included i-pads, telecommunications goodies from Huawei and five computers with Internet dongles.
The company said the computers should be used to further the President’s work of bringing ICT knowledge to schools in Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South, which form the southern region.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Nicholas Goche, Zanu-PF national Chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo, the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, Cabinet ministers, civic leaders, and the business community were among those who attended the event.
Online Reporter