Bulawayo to host world ICT commemorations

growth of the city through opening opportunities in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as it would bring together different stakeholders in the digital world.
This would be the first time the Post and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) holds the commemorations in the city.
The venue for the one-day event would be the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Hall Three.
Responding to written questions recently, Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda said the telecommunication regulatory authority was committed to the revival of Bulawayo.
He said they felt holding the event in the country’s second largest city would re-open opportunities at a time when industries were either closing or relocating to Harare.
“The World Telecommunications and Information Society Day is there to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other technologies can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide,” said Eng Sibanda.
He said the event would open opportunities for Bulawayo.
“POTRAZ, as a regulatory authority, recognises that  telecommunication technologies and services are not used in one town or province, hence the need to rotate the hosting of the commemorations,” said Eng Sibanda. 
He said they believed the event would create major awareness and advertise Bulawayo as a city throughout Zimbabwe and worldwide.  Potraz and its stakeholders would require services from different sectors such as hotels, caterers, decor, performers and Small to Medium Enterprises who would earn some income from the event being held in Bulawayo.
“Participants will spend money in Bulawayo hotels, food points and places  and we believe this contribution will make a difference. We also believe that the people of Bulawayo will benefit from critical networking opportunities that will be available at this event.”  
Last year, the event was held at Jerera Growth Point in Masvingo’s Zaka district.
Each year, the ITU comes up with a theme that is used during the commemorations.
This year’s theme is “Women and Girls in ICT”, and is in line with               the Government programme of affording the girl child equal opportunities.
The commemorations are held annually on 17 May following the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention (ITC) and the creation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations (UN) specialised agency in 1969.
The day was renamed ‘World Telecommunication and Information Society Day’ in 2007 in recognition of the growing impact of telecommunication services in transforming the world into an Information Society.
In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the UN General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on the day.
Eng Sibanda said participants would be drawn from the more than 20 organisations and companies licensed and regulated by Potraz.
He said the event would also be open to any organisation and individuals who use ICT products or services.