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Nqobile Bhebhe
Bulawayo Bureau
President Mnangagwa is expected to host three heads of State, a deputy prime minister and scores of executives of leading financial institutions in Africa who will join over 3 000 delegates from over 100 countries at the Transform Africa Summit (TAS) in Victoria Falls next week.
The summit is Africa’s leading annual forum bringing together global and regional leaders from government, business and international organisations to collaborate on new ways of shaping, accelerating and sustaining Africa’s on-going digital revolution.
According to the organisers, Zimbabwe has been selected to host the three-day high-level event against bids from other 36 members of the Smart Africa Alliance.
Zimbabwe won the bid because it is an active member that is leading the continental Agri-Tech blueprint.
TAS, which is in its 6th edition, is set for April 26 to 28 and runs under the theme: “Connect, Innovate, and Transform.”
The previous five editions were all held in Rwanda.
Close to 3 000 delegates from over 100 countries are expected to attend the summit whose focus is on digital transformation of the African continent.
Smart Africa is taking care of the budget and resource mobilisation, which is estimated at US$1, 2 million.
According to the official programme on TAS website, President Mnangagwa will be joined by Rwandan counterpart, President Paul Kagame, who is the chairman of the Smart Africa Board.
President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi and Senegal President Macky Sall are also billed to grace the summit.
Serbia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Siniša Mali, Estonia’s Deputy Minister for Economic and Development Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Mariin Ratnik and the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank, Dr Benedict Okey Oramah are some of the high profile figures that will attend.
The list of key speakers also include Malawi Information Minister Mr Moses Kalongashawa Kunkuy, Senegal Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy Mr Moussa Bocar Thiam, chief executive officer of Pan-African Payment Settlement System (PAPSS) Mr Mike Ogbalu III, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene and Dr Oramah.
Speaking from Victoria Falls yesterday, Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingimuzi Phuti said preparatory works are at an advanced stage.He said hosting the summit speaks to the success of the Second Republic’s re-engagement and engagement policy.
“Bidding and winning the rights to host such a strategic conference is an affirmation that President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement and engagement drive is gaining traction. Zimbabwe is bouncing back into the community of nations.”
Deputy Minister Phuti is leading a delegation that is overseeing the preparations for the summit.
He said from the number of people that have registered to date, the conference will be oversubscribed.
“The amount of preparatory work and delegates who have registered so far point to a successful conference. The European Union is sending a delegation of 30 people, Germany 100 delegates and Estonia is sending 20 people. In terms of spin-offs, the tourism sector is immensely benefiting as we have people who have been in Victoria Falls for over a month preparing for the summit. Some have indicated that they will stay a week longer after the summit,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
He said as information technology is driving the global economy, the summit has attracted big ICT players who might want to set up shop in the country and Zimbabwe stands to benefit from skills transfer.
Organisers of the summit said Zimbabwe was selected to host the summit because it showed commitment to the accomplishment of Smart Africa’s objectives and also has the required facilities to host such such a big conference.
“Any member of the Smart Africa Alliance that meets the requirements can host the summit. Zimbabwe is an active member which is leading the continental Agri-Tech blueprint hence it won the bid this year,” said the organisers in a statement.
Organisers said the Transform Africa Summit has made a name for itself as a leading technology forum in Africa and has attracted numerous global and regional leaders from government, business and international organizations.
The inaugural summit held in Kigali in 2013 brought together seven heads of state, making it the most attended.
On the significance of the summit, the organisers said: “The Transform Africa Summit is an opportunity for meaningful engagements on how governments can attract large-scale investments and enable fast growth and exports as well as for the private sector to thrive in an innovation and ICT-driven entrepreneurship ecosystem thereby transforming African nations into smart societies.”
Zimbabwe is set to fully exploit the high-level summit by showcasing its investment opportunities in order to attract new investments.
Last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said preparations are firmly on course and weekly preparatory meetings are being held.
She said an Inter-Ministerial Organising Committee is working closely with the Smart Africa Secretariat in preparing for the Summit.
Topics to be tackled range from Building Resilient Digital Ecosystem in Africa through Sustainable Investment, Innovative Financing for the Single Digital Market and Foreign Investment for Digital Ecosystem of Africa, Cooperation and Best practices.
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