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In an interview, Information and Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa said almost everything was in place ahead of the day on 17 May.
“We are at an advanced stage as we prepare to show that we are true to our character and culture of productivity as a sector.
“This year we will be in Bulawayo because we felt the event will be more vivid if held from there and it’s a chance for local companies to mingle and find business opportunities during this occasion,” he said
Minister Chamisa said the commemoration was going to be a hive of activities as there would be ICT displays and shows as some ICT players will be showcasing their products.
“There will be a lot of displays lined up for people to see and this is a chance for companies to be under one roof sharing ideas and finding business deals also.”
He said this year’s theme was Women in Information Communication Technology as they were trying to increase the role of women in ICT.
“This theme is aimed at encouraging women involvement in country and economy building and we hope women will effectively participate during this event.
“We are also going to invite women leaders in Matabeleland to be part of this as a way of honouring the theme for this year whereby we had the woman and the girl child in mind,” Minister Chamisa said.
He said at the moment the ICT sector was booming as they had noticed major changes in various sub-sectors of ICT.
“There was a growth of 72 from 32 percent in the telecommunications as from 2008 to 2011 which is a notable increase.
“Twenty-six percent growth was also recorded in the internet services provision a sign that people are embracing technology and we are looking forward to further improvements,” he said.
Minister Chamisa said the sector had managed to improve infrastructure through the laying down of the fibre optic cables that run from Bulawayo to Beitbridge and from Plumtree to Botswana on Powertel platform.
“We are now working on the one from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly which will be hosted next year.
“We are also busy computerising schools especially in marginalised areas, working on e-governance and e-commerce which is already rampant. Its just good news for the ICT sector and the economy as a whole,” he said.
The world telecommunication celebrations are an annual event on the 17 May following the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention (ICT) and the creation of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations Union specialised agency in 1969.
Online Reporter