Africa affirms need to embrace technology

Nqobile Bhebhe
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THE African continent cannot afford to snub the use of technology in all socio-economic spheres as that is the only sure way for the continent to catch up with the rest of the world on development.

The benefits of technology cut across health, education, mining and agriculture.
The growing clarion call to embrace technology without reservations was amplified at the just-ended three-day high level Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls.

This year’s summit was held under the theme, “Connect, Innovate and Transform”. It was attended by five Heads of State, leaders in technology and trade bodies.

During the summit, it was made clear that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA, taking advantage of its key resources, high population of its member states, emerging political will and more importantly technological advances sweeping the continent, is on course to being the world’s largest trade bloc.

The AfCFTA is a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy.

Under the agreement, Africa expects the AfCFTA implementation to increase mobility of the continent’s people, goods and services with attendant necessities for institutions to harmonise and integrate much of its operational systems, regulations and mechanisms.

Estimates indicate that the AfCFTA could boost the continental economy from about US$3 trillion (2020) to about US$8 trillion by 2030.

Added to that, with the continent’s growing population, the AfCFTA is envisaged to be the largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation WTO) given Africa’s population of 1,2 billion people which is expected to grow to 2,5 billion by 2050.

At the summit, there was a unified clarion call for Africa to embrace technology and leave no one and no place behind in development and in order for that to happen, the continent’s digital transformation is not an individual effort but a collective effort that requires every citizen to play a part.

A united Africa can create a more stable and secure environment that encourages investment, job creation and economic growth. It can also lead to increased political power and influence on the global stage.

In his keynote address, President Mnangagwa noted that partnerships are essential for Africa to leap forward and build capabilities in science and technology.

“The continent must seamlessly integrate the frontier of science and technology with the unique needs and strategic socio­economic development goals of Africa,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Collectively, let us leverage on this noble Transform Africa initiative to accelerate the achievement of Africa’s Agenda 2063, ICT aspirations and the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one and no place behind.”

President Mnangagwa added that technology is a development priority and must be embraced if Africa is to transform, modernise and industrialise in a fast-changing global environment.

Rapid innovations in science, communications and computing technologies are opening up new opportunities for enhancing participation by all in the modern global economy, he noted.

“African Governments and stakeholders from the continent and beyond have an obligation to usher Africa into a knowledge-based economy anchored on the benefits of technology.
“The onus is on all of us to facilitate the closure of gaps in living standards among African citizens, riding on ICTs. The people of Africa should not be left behind,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi said the continent has been left behind in agricultural production, in standards of education, tourism, mining, health, security, infrastructure development, trade and many other sectors.
In offering solutions, he said there is a need to adopt strategic “shortcuts”.
“In any race, if you are too far behind your competitors who started the race long before you, the only way to have a fighting chance is to abandon the racing track and take a shortcut.
“And so when it comes to the socio-economic development of Africa, the only way for us to catch up is to take a shortcut, and the only shortcut available to us now are technologies that allow us to go digital in every sector of our economy,” said President Chakwera.

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame said the continent should embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as it has great potential to enhance critical sectors such as agriculture, health and education.
Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that has made headlines in recent weeks for the right reasons, at most, he said.

“It is still unclear how it will affect existing jobs and what safety concerns there will be, but it is also already possible seeing that Africa has the most to gain,” said President Kagame who is the chairman of the Smart Africa Board.

“This is because Artificial Intelligence applications can narrow productivity gaps between African firms and their competitors on other continents. We should therefore move quickly to embrace AI and make it work for us,” he said.

Addressing delegates, King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini said now is the time for Africa to focus on technology as a vehicle that can enhance development that bridges the digital divide with the West.

He said we now live in an exciting time where the world is transforming at an unprecedented pace. “The rate of technology development is fast and Africa should not be left behind.

“As we move forward, we must embrace digital transformation if we hope to get a better future for ourselves and generations to come in our beloved continent. Africa has to be united for us to promote the Africa we want as espoused in the 2063 Agenda,” said King Mswati.

There is need to share technology such that when African countries come together and work towards a common goal they can achieve more than they would as separate countries, he added.

That common goal was buttressed by the signing of several strategic agreements that seek to enhance collaboration in information, communication and technology to develop a Single Digital Market for Africa under the AfCFTA.

One such memorandum of agreement was between Smart Africa and the AfCFTA.
The agreement will among other areas focus on technical support to the development and implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, cooperation in work related to digital transformation and promotion of digital financial inclusion.
Another area of focus is the development of a unified approach to digital cross-border payments (including pilot projects) within the AfCFTA, such as supporting the implementation and preparation of studies, technical notes and briefs on the implementation and advocacy of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

Smart Africa Director General and chief executive officer, Mr Lacina Koné noted that it was imperative for Africa to rally behind its collective vision.

“This is a strategic area because the African Continental Free Trade Area will be the biggest free trade area in the world and would be supported by the digital engine that Smart Africa has been spearheading for the past 10 years.”

Zimbabwe is pursuing the revitalisation of strategic industrial value chains as part of efforts to enhance domestic productivity and substituting imports while positioning local businesses to tap into trade opportunities under the AfCFTA.

Guided by the National Development Strategy (NDS1:2021-2025), the Government and the private sector are agreed on the need to up-scale industry operations through leveraging on comprehensive policy reforms being undertaken by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.

Under NDS1, the country has committed to spearheading a dual strategic thrust towards private sector-led economic growth and export led growth.

Related to this is the drive to create a favourable operating environment through ease of doing business reforms, supported by international re-engagement on all fronts with focus on economic diplomacy.

The country expects these strategies to boost not only intra-Africa trade but the penetration of global value and supply chains as well.

The summit brought together five Heads of States, 44 ministers and around 4 000 delegates from 91 countries.
The Kingdom of Eswatini became the 37th member state of the Smart Alliance which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

“The Republics of Gambia and Botswana are also closing the process to join the Alliance. Private sector members including Irembo, Ascend Digital and Asmos Consulting Africa also formalised their memberships during the summit.

“This ongoing growth of Smart Africa is a testament of the tangible value that we consistently deliver,” Mr Koné said in a statement.

Mr Koné observed that the presence of Heads of States is a testimony of Africa’s political commitment at the highest level “in our actions for the digital transformation of our continent.”

The summit saw the signing of various agreements including a U$S1,5 million project by Smart Africa and the African Development Bank to streamline digital trade and e-commerce policies across 10 African countries.

Other partnerships in the areas of connectivity, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship and capacity building among others were also signed.

Smart Africa is an alliance of 37 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda.

The Alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and the use of ICTs.

With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of State who seek to accelerate the digitalisation of the continent and create a common market.

It was launched in 2013 by seven African Heads of State, the Alliance now has 37 member countries, representing over 1,1 billion people and over 45 Private Sector members committed to the vision and the advancement of Africa.

In his closing remarks, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti said the conference had confirmed Zimbabwe’s strides in its policy of engagement.

“The major take away from this summit is the need to collaborate, we need to come together and provide solutions not only as an African bloc but together with partners,” he said.