admin“People in Zimbabwe have grown excessive awareness of ICT in these past years due to associations like Computer Society of Zimbabwe to help everyone have access to technological changes,” he said.
He said the sector had the power to turn the economy around as it had the ability to design products that can be of use to the local industry as well as market Zimbabwe at a global level.
Mr Makusha said competitiveness and profitability was increasing in the information and technology industry with mainly the private sector leading the developments.
“The private sector are more competitive in the global ICT pricing hence they are the ones who have the greatest power to turn around the face of ICT in the country if the Government grants them a
conducive environment to operate in,” he said.
He encouraged the private sector to partner with each other as well as partner with governmental institutions to develop the country as well as save resources.
“ICT infrastructural development is highly encouraged as the technical world is always changing,” Mr Makusha said.
He, however, said the sector was faced with various challenges mainly power shortages when technology and power were interdependent.
“Power is seriously dragging the sector down and there is little we can do about that though there are some issues like accessibility that trouble the sector also.
“The greatest of the Zimbabwean population is located in the rural areas where there is no electricity though the Government is making notable strides by electrifying rural areas as well as donating computers to rural schools,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Professor Phineas Makhurane said there was need to apply ICT to business activities to boost local industry.
“Business on Internet provides quality service to customers as well as creating web based customer relations.
“Business online helps companies to improve on marketing as well as giving them new marketing channels and it also saves time, reduces costs and saves resources,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe was benefiting from changes in technology in terms of e-banking, e-shopping and e-mailing.
“People are however abusing technology by practising white collar crimes as well as pornography which is not good for the country,” he said.
He bemoaned the lack of infrastructure, exodus of skilled personnel to other countries, lack of support from Government and shortage of computers especially in schools.
“There is also need for the ICT sector to be allocated their own budget as the sector needs fiscals dedicated to them,” he said.
Online Reporter