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Hatred Zenenga in BARCELONA, Spain
THE Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, has highlighted the Government’s commitment to exploring new ways of enhancing the country’s mobile network and reduce the cost of data.
In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC24) here yesterday, Dr Mavetera emphasised the importance of developing policies that are relevant to Zimbabwe’s specific needs.
She stated that the Government was aiming to assess and compare different options to determine their affordability and suitability for the country.
The Minister expressed her desire to provide policy directions to companies, ensuring that they prioritise options that can help reduce the cost of data, which, she acknowledged, has been a major concern for all Zimbabweans.
“I want to assure Zimbabweans that His Excellency Dr President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed the ministry to address the issue of data costs urgently. We need to examine the entire mobile network ecosystem and identify the factors contributing to high costs. The goal is to find a lasting solution that ensures an efficient, reliable, and affordable mobile network for the people of Zimbabwe”.
Dr Mavetera, who toured the Huawei Exhibition Hall, the largest at the congress, acknowledged Huawei’s significant role in improving Zimbabwe’s telecommunications infrastructure. She commended the company for its technology and larger facilities, which have helped expand the country’s capacity.
Huawei’s system also supports the transmission and network functions, working as an extension to Zimbabwe’s existing infrastructure.
The Minister expressed interest in exploring opportunities for Zimbabwean companies to access Huawei’s resources at reasonable prices through bulk purchasing, which could potentially result in discounts.
However, she clarified that the Government does not intend to engage in business ventures, but rather aims to facilitate collaboration among local companies to negotiate favourable terms collectively.
In addition, Dr Mavetera discussed Huawei’s facility in rural areas. While acknowledging some limitations that need upgrading to align with Zimbabwe’s shared infrastructure policy, she praised Huawei’s commitment to customising the facility to suit the country’s requirements.
This approach ensures that Zimbabwe does not operate in isolation but rather collaborates with Huawei to bring about positive outcomes. The Minister emphasised that Zimbabwe will continue to maintain its shared infrastructure policy.
Dr Mavetera expressed excitement about Huawei’s Generative AI data centre and emphasised the importance of developing software, including AI and quantum computing, to stay at the forefront of technology. She emphasised the need for reliable storage facilities and highlighted the Government’s efforts to establish a Government cloud and digitise all Government departments.
“These initiatives aim to enhance service delivery and improve efficiency,” she said.
Dr Mavetera stressed efforts to ensure that Zimbabwean companies remain competitive in the rapidly evolving information communication technology sector. She expressed confidence that significant progress will be made before the end of the year.
On the Mobile World Congress which ends tomorrow, Dr Mavetera expressed her excitement at attending the event and highlighted the importance of adopting new technologies to achieve Zimbabwe’s digital transformation goals by 2030.
“There is a need to bridge the digital divide in Zimbabwe and increase the rate of Internet penetration. There is also a need for an increase in smartphone uptake and the availability of affordable devices,” she said.
The Minister mentioned the existence of a local company called Sitcom, which manufactures and assembles smart gadgets in Zimbabwe. She emphasised the need to recapitalise the company and explore ways to make cheap devices accessible to Zimbabweans.
“It is also important that we should capacitate the national data centre to provide efficient and affordable cloud computing services,” she said.
Dr Mavetera also highlighted the need to ensure reliable networks and explore hybrid systems to improve connectivity and promote sustainability.
She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to protecting the privacy of citizens’ personal information and encouraged collaboration to develop best practices for data protection.
The Minister acknowledged the lack of proactive efforts by telecoms companies to lay fibre in rural areas, hindering connectivity for the population.
“I want to stress the importance of finding innovative ways to connect the unconnected and ensure efficient and reliable connectivity throughout Zimbabwe.”
Highlighting Government’s commitment to attracting technology companies to invest in Zimbabwe, the Minister stressed the need for a whole-of-Government approach and collaboration with various ministries to address limitations that may deter companies from investing in the country.
“I want to emphasise the importance of customised programmes and proposals for telecoms operators in order to encourage investment in Zimbabwe.”
Online Reporter