‘ICT policies should benefit people’

Joshua Muswere –Herald Correspondent

THE formulation of ICT policies and laws is meaningless if they cannot be translated to improved connectivity for the people, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera, has said.

Speaking during the Ministry’s 2024 Strategic Plan Review workshop in Kadoma yesterday, Minister Mavetera stressed the urgent need for policies that will ensure accelerated digitalisation in a suitable environment for innovation growth and increased connectivity.

The Strategic Plan Review was held with the mandate to address the pressing issue of the digital divide affecting in particular the marginalised and underserved areas with many still lacking access to reliable internet services, at least at reasonable cost, and digital tools, further hampering economic growth and social development.

“Digital transformation is founded on policy and tangible deployment of connectivity.

“We must conclude all pending policies and legislative matters such as the artificial intelligence policy, the postal and courier services policy, the child online safety policy, e-waste policy, ICT start-up policy, the e-Commerce and e-Transactions Bill as well as the amendment to the Postal and Telecommunications Act.”

“There is also need to develop policies that deal with other disruptive technologies such as IoT, block-chain technology and machine learning,” said the minister.

Minister Mavetera emphasised the need for private and public partnership and increased benefits in improving the country’s connectivity to eliminate the urban-to-rural digital divide.

“Collaboration between the Government and the private sector will be crucial in improving connectivity, driving innovation and expanding access to ICT services.”

“By working together, we can create an ecosystem that nurtures creativity and entrepreneurship,” she said.

“The 2025 performance contracts will serve as a tool for accountability, ensuring that we remain focused on achieving our strategic objectives.

“This must all be preceded by an extensive review of all the programmes we have rolled out in the past including but not limited to the lab per school project and community information centres which we need to repurpose and rebrand into digital centres in line with the Smart Zimbabwe initiative,” said the Minister.

Over the years, the Ministry had achieved significant milestones that included increased internet penetration through partnering with telecommunications companies to ensure that even the most remote communities could access vital information and services.

Now there is the licencing of services from low earth orbit satellites providing new and affordable methods of providing connectivity.