THE government has invited Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders to help finalise the National Information and Communication Technology Policy Framework, expected to pass through Cabinet by May 2014.
Tarisai Mandizha
Zimbabwe first launched its national ICT Policy Framework in 2007, but the document was overtaken by developments in the fast-growing sector, forcing the government to revise the policy starting in 2012 Addressing guests during a consultative conference in the capital yesterday, Information and Communication Technology minister Webster Shamu said the consultations were aimed at improving existing ICT infrastructure and develop high-speed broadband, promote and encourage effective utilisation of existing communications infrastructure.
The government also plans to increase bandwidth on national backbone and international gateway and develop enabling infrastructure to ensure equitable access by the entire populace.
“Once this policy is approved by stakeholders today, from here we go to the Attorney-General’s Office and then to Cabinet.
“We want the policy to be finished as soon as possible. We will start in April, so by May the policy should be in place,” Shamu said.
He said the ICT industry was making significant inroads into the society and huge investments had been made by both public and private players in the ICT industry.
He, however, said the Mobile penetration in Zimbabwe has risen to around 104,4% translating to approximately 13,6 million subscribers in the country and as a result the internet penetration rate has increased to 39,8% from 33,4% as of December 2012.
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“This has opened up opportunities for innovative and enhanced mobile services such as the money transfers and e-transactions, thus creating employment and impacting positively on the lives of our people,” he said.
He added that research had shown that every 10% increase in broadband penetration accelerates economic growth by 1, 38% in low — and middle income countries.
He said the overall objectives of the framework were to facilitate the provision and maintenance of infrastructural facilities necessary for ICT developments, embark on extensive capacity building and training programmes to provide adequate supply of qualified ICT personnel and knowledge workers in all sectors, establish institutional mechanisms and procedures for determining sectorial applications priorities, promote, support access to benefits offered by ICTs across all sectors of the society and promote the research and development of local ICTs compete with international products, among many others.
