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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
The national policy on Information and Communication Technology will contribute significantly to the newly adopted Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation as a principal driver of economic development, Senior Minister in the President’s Office Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said yesterday.
He said this while officiating at the opening of the E-Tech Africa 2014 Exhibition and National ICT Finalisation Workshop yesterday.
“Your finalisation of the National ICT policy is very timeous as it gives you an opportunity to recognise your ministry’s (of ICT, Postal and Courier Services) critical contribution to the newly adopted economic blueprint, the Zim-Asset. ICT is a cross-cutting sector and is one of the principal drivers of economic development.
“It is, in fact, one of the major pillars on which Zim-Asset strategic document is anchored on,” Ambassador Khaya Moyo said.
He added that ICTs had created opportunities for development in many countries, Zimbabwe included.
“Let me highlight that ICT has become a powerful tool, that is providing developing countries, Zimbabwe included, with unprecedented beckoning opportunities to meet vital development goals such as poverty reduction, basic health care and education, far more effectively than before.
“The increasing use of technology in all aspects of society makes confident, creative and productive use of ICT an essential skill for life,” he said.
The Senior Minister said the new policy should ensure that stakeholders in the sector worked together to enable its growth and development.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Government would create an enabling environment for the growth of the ICT sector.
“As Government, we will intervene when necessary to correct market failures, to maintain fair competition, to attract investment, to enhance the development of the ICT infrastructure and applications to maximise economic and social benefits and also to serve national priorities,” he said.
Online Reporter