adminTendai Nheta Correspondent
One thing about technology is that people need to be involved, there is no other way Africa can thrive without taking part on inventions and technology if nothing changes, Africa is going to struggle to catch up on capital markets and inventions. There is a risk of a widening gap between First and Third World countries, this is a worrying prospect that needs to be taken seriously if at all Africa is ready for change.
Depending on how people view Africa, there are different perceptions that drive a narrative of poverty within communities, this has seen the drive by governments on the African continent to push for digitisation across industries. The technological revolution is radically shaping lives globally, the way tradition taught us is no longer sustainable, industry processes are overtaken by technological advancement and Third World countries need to catch up to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and fast. Some of the traditional jobs are threatened by possible, shortage, extinction and it is inevitable should they still exist that they will carry a low wage as a result of digitisation.
The Third Industrial Revolution brought about mobile technology and social media platforms which bridged the information gap, automation, telecommunications, computing among other innovations broadened the horizon at which we imagined the universe, now that technology has made it possible to see beyond the impossible, Africa no longer has an excuse but to grab this opportunity and begin to be visible and be productive. The broader outreach of technology would mean that Africa can finally participate in a wider global platform and start contributing more proactively for development to start happening backed up by big data.
The 4IR is a game-changer, the fear for being left behind is real and playing catch-up would not cut it as technology is changing. This is the time for Zimbabwe to begin the journey of digitising all sectors especially agriculture, mining and all industries. With the advent of global warming, all the signs of weather changes are pointing to seasonal shifts whose impact could only be anyone’s guess.
Africa ought to have a wider focus, well into decades to try and magnify our territorial spectrum, innovations across Africa and government collaborations could not be emphasised better than it should be now. The move for African countries to come together under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is commendable and should be expedited, this has the potential to bring over 1,2 billion people together, the potential of trade and fighting poverty could be enhanced through utilising technology, allowing seamless communication between countries, and increase in productivity across all industries on the continent.
4IR has interesting technologies that could shape up the way people live, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, artificial technology (AI) and robotics, internet of things (IoT), blockchain, high-speed network connectivity in the form of 5G, and 3-D printing and more. All these are pointing to a very fast-paced lifestyle that could change the dynamics of our immediate environment. The ability to utilise these technologies will indeed be very beneficial to change the standard of life for people around the world.
We have already seen how these technologies are being used in First World countries, use of robotics to expedite processes within factories, automated production lines, mechanised agriculture, medical breakthroughs where 3D technologies are being used to make prosthetics, to name but just a few.
Finally, through these technologies, we can reduce cost as we can forecast results with unimaginable precision using ground-breaking software systems. In construction we are able to build virtually, through use of building information modeling (BIM), virtual reality (VR), companies are able to build the whole development schemes or construction projects virtually, through analysing the data, companies are able to reduce cost, waste resulting into quality output increased productivity and even fewer accidents on site.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa which is currently struggling economically. The dollarised economy created inequality, increasing the gap between the haves and the have- nots, condemning Zimbabwe ans to among the poorest in the world. One might wonder what then the impact 4IR would have to countries like Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is one of the richest countries in Africa, endowed with natural recourses, discovered and yet to be explored. These mineral resources have the potential to change the economic landscape of Zimbabwe. 4IR has brought affordable technology, tools and information required to be able to plan, communicate and produce results without too much cost attached. Exploration tools, including software, make it possible for us to be able to “kep in touch” now than ever before.
Technology has made it possible for the majority of poor communities in the poorest countries to be accessible, through drone technology, robotics and information to be shared through mobile technology and fast internet connectivity. With imminent 5G, the speed at which we currently receive information will change significantly and we will be able to bring the world closer, allowing the seamless ability to do business across the continent and globally. This brings marginalised communities in spatially disadvantaged urban, peri-urban areas, rural areas and town and cities to improve their lives. The architecture of the economy and the spatial make-up of our country already make it difficult for some in these pockets of society to access technological resources, such as reliable internet connectivity.
For Africa to achieve sustainable digitally driven economies, there is a need for the government to have buy-in for the technology and drive 4IR agenda more aggressively. The positives that 4IR have outweighed the negatives. There is, however, a need for distinction between technologies; there are those that are helpful to drive change in communities through creation of specialising employment although some will spell an end to some traditional jobs and replace them with automation in the car manufacturing industry, mundane and repetitive work, synthesis of data through computing, etc., where the human element is required, there is need to train data scientists and new tech-related jobs.
Communities and ministries should forge partnerships with universities to be able to equip students with knowledge in areas such as cloud computing, data science and software engineering. These skillsets are crucial if Africa is to embark of this digital journey which will help shape the continent through transforming people’s lives and growing our economies. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been vocal on this issues of digitisation. He recently put together a team to explore research on the implementation of 4IR, citing the direction the world is headed and that it is vital that South Africa’s education system changes and take the digital approach. The Zimbabwean education system needs to evolve with time, the Government should be working with a view that education curriculum will be outdated soon if we do not conform.
All this said there are a variety of challenges stemming from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to overcome, such as income inequality, cybersecurity, and ethical dilemmas create ripple effects on societies, institutions, and economies. However, if these issues are addressed effectively, they will transform how we live, work, and interact with one another. Understanding these new technologies and their disruption potential is critical for all nations and especially developing countries.
Online Reporter