daniel chigunwe
Mukudzei Chingwere Herald Reporter
Digital connectivity is being expanded across all sectors as a requirement of an empowered and prosperous middle income society by 2030 as envisaged by President Mnangagwa, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said last week.
Speaking during the judiciary services commission ICT training workshop, Dr Muswere said the graduation was evidence of the strategic and enviable relationship between the Judicial Services Commission and his ministry.
“This training of judges is not only important as a form of continuous staff development, but it has also come at an opportune time when the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to realise the importance of ICTs,” he said.
“The use of ICTs to comply with Covid-19 regulations such as social distancing has transformed the need for ICT usage knowledge from being an option into a fundamental necessity. “It is refreshing to note that the judiciary is taking a huge lead in adapting to the new normal where the knowledge of the use of ICTs has become so vital that it can mean the difference between life and death.”
Minister Muswere said the training workshop dovetailed with the aspirations of the Government in its quest to have a digitally literate population in the journey to becoming an upper-middle-income society by the year 2030.
“The National Development Strategy 1 identifies human capital development as one of the key drivers for the country’s march towards Vision 2030,” he said. “The focus of human capital development is on creating a knowledge-driven economy for sustained growth and modernisation of Zimbabwe.”
Minister Muswere, attending the launch at Nyakuipa secondary school in Manicaland of an ICT lab last week, said the mandate given to his ministry as directed by the President was not to leave anyone behind.
“It is, therefore, our goal as a Ministry to create access to ICTs for all Zimbabweans regardless of their location,” he said. “The development of any nation is founded on human capital development.
“This means that our ability to attain vision 2030 as enunciated by President Mnangagwa rests on how well trained our people are. Any training that does not involve learners in our institutions of learning is futile as it is not forward-looking.
“The provision of ICT equipment to schools is, therefore, a priority if we are to achieve vision 2030.” Minister Muswere said his ministry came up with the SMART Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan in line with the National Development Strategy 1. He said the master plan sought to transform the country through the use of ICTs so that Zimbabwe attains its vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Online Reporter