‘Digital inclusion to drive NDS1 success’

Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT has created an enabling environment that promotes digital infrastructure investments comprising both fibre and wireless technologies to support efficient electronic-commerce transactions across the country.
Widening ICT investments is critical as the country drives towards digital inclusion, which would enable those in remote rural areas to fully participate in the digital economy, thereby increase their overall economic contribution and standards of living.

Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said this on Thursday at the launch of the Nkayi Community Information Centre in Matabeleland North.

In a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary, Dr Sam Kundishora, he said the establishment of information centres across all districts in rural areas dovetails the ideals of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), a five-year economic blueprint that emphasises on the digital economy as one of the 14 national priorities between now and 2025.

“We are committed to providing stakeholders with opportunities to develop the sector and to make ICTs one of the key pillars of the economy,” said Dr Muswere.

“The digital economy and a knowledge society that we are creating, should, therefore, not be a preserve of those in urban areas alone, but should permeate throughout the whole country, including remote areas like Nkayi.

“Access to ICTs and effective participation in the digital economy remains critical in improving the quality of life for all the people of Zimbabwe.”

Minister Muswere said NDS1 provides a roadmap towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030 and was anchored on a digitally enabled economy as one of the key outcomes.

Amid the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister said digital technologies have come in handy, as he urged businesses across the country to embrace ICTs.

“I, therefore, call upon the youths of Nkayi to take up studies in the different disciplines in the ICT sector and make use of the facilities we are commissioning today to conduct research when doing their homework and when preparing for their examinations,” he said.

“Digital inclusion can only thrive where the community can identify themselves with the available digital content.”
The minister also stressed the need to develop local content to increase the usefulness of the information centre and ensuring that all locals get value from it.

Potraz director general, Dr Gift Machengete, said they were excited by the launch of the Nkayi Community Information Centre.

“This community information centre is here to create a business enabling environment. Nkayi is endowed with many natural resources that can be leveraged for development. With this community information centre, our aim is to empower the people of Nkayi,” he said.

“We would want them to research about expected rainfall and expected temperatures so that they plan their farming activities accordingly.”

The launch also saw the Government donating ICT gadgets that include laptops and printers to different primary and secondary schools in Nkayi, Binga, Lupane and Tsholotsho districts of Matabeleland North province.

A total of 50 people comprising the elderly and those living with disability from Nkayi district also received various goodies that included food hampers and blankets from Dr Machengete on behalf of Potraz as an early Christmas present.

Government officials, traditional leaders, and representatives from players in the telecommunications sector, among others also attended the event.