Thousands of people on Tuesday marched around the resort town of Victoria Falls to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) which coincided with the World Telecommunications Information Society Day 2015.
BY Elias Mambo
The World Summit on information society in November 2005 resolved to call upon the United Nations general assembly to declare May 17 of each year a day when nations can focus on the importance of information communications technology (ICT).
ICT, Postal and Courier Services deputy minister Win Mlambo who was guest of honour at the event, reminded the crowds that thronged Chinotimba Stadium of the importance of the day.
“Therefore, before all of us are carried away in the celebrations, please allow me to recap the objectives of this important day, that it is to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies, and build a people-centred, inclusive information society based on fundamental human rights. It also aims to help reduce the digital divide,” Mlambo said.
He said although technological developments had greatly contributed to the human social economic development, people should be worried about being enslaved by the same machines that should help them.
“Let’s be cautious about how we use these technologies,” he said.
“My children spend lots of time on these gadgets, it gets worrisome. If you spend so much time on them (gadgets) you become a virtual slave of technology.”
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Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority acting director-general Buxton Sirewu, reading a message on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, highlighted the significance of the day to the world.
