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Elita Chikwati in Seychelles
Effective communication by an informed media plays a significant role in the adoption and implementation of regional programmes and policies meant to enhance integration and boost economic development in Africa.
It is also through effective communication that people are able to know of developmental projects taking place in their countries and how they can benefit and improve their livelihoods.
This came out yesterday at a three-day media training and familiarisation workshop on Support to the Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme and the Enhancement of Governance and Enabling Environment in the ICT Sector(EGEE-ICT) being hosted by the COMESA Secretariat in Seychelles.
The training is being attended by COMESA experts in ICT and aviation, government officials and journalists, including representatives from Zimbabwe.
The workshop is aimed at presenting to the communication and media professionals the two programmes (EGEE-ICT and SATSD) and other infrastructure programmes being undertaken by the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the COMESA region.
It is also targeted at equipping the media with knowledge about the programmes so they can become better communicators on the subjects and ultimately a well-informed public.
The SATSD programme in the Eastern Africa Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (EA SA IO) region is a four-year programme that aims to support air transport market integration, strengthen efficiency with an overall objective of contributing to the development of the sector the region.
The EGEE-ICT programme in the EA SA IO is a four-year programme aimed at governance and enabling environment in the ICT regional policy and regulatory framework in harmonised manner through the contributing to enhanced competition and improving access to cost effective and secure ICT service.
COMESA believes that dissemination of information and raising awareness among the public is important in mobilising their participation, while member states’ interest and participation have the influence on the success of these programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the COMESA secretary-general, Mrs Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, senior transport economist, Mr Bernard Dzawanda, expressed gratitude to the collaborative partners, the European Union for their support towards the developmental programmes.
He said the media should report on the progress of these projects, challenges, successes and further initiatives that can be taken to complement the initial efforts.
In an interview on the sidelines of the workshop, Mr Dzawanda challenged the media to report widely on the aviation’s flagship programme of establishing the Single African Air Transport Market.
“Our aviation programme is on supporting the activities in the establishment of the market. There are some pre-conditions that are supposed to be met in terms of equipment.
“Civil aviation authorities should be capacitated to be able to manage within that complex where there is liberalised movement of flights.
“The media will enhance awareness to member states.
“There is competition and some small airlines may close. At the African Union level, they have been taking mitigatory measures to promote vulnerable small airlines.”
On ICT, Mr Dzawanda said the sector was an enabler and should be promoted as everyone was going digital.
Seychelles director general of regional integration department of foreign affairs, Mr Christian Faure, said both the aviation and ICT programmes were important in strengthening inter-regional connectivity of member states.
“We are hopeful that this will lead to transformative e-applications and services in Africa ; especially in the intra Africa broadband infrastructure and cyber security in ICT,” he said.
“We are looking to strengthening the inter regional connectivity of our respective capitals. Having a unified air transport market gives an added impetus to the continent’s economic integration agenda in the Single African Air Transport market.
“Both programmes are key contributors to the AU agenda 2063 performance goal number 10 – which is “world class infrastructure across Africa”.
Zimbabwe’s representative and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Mr Livit Mugejo said regional integration was important in standardising and harmonisation of air transport and the ICT sectors.
“This will greatly reduce costs and enhance trade within African countries,” he said.
“Communication experts are, therefore, called upon to drive and sensitise stakeholders in Comesa to transform their policies to reflect the new reality in both air transport and ICT.”
Online Reporter