Zim needs to invest in ICT
EDITOR — Over the last decade, Zimbabwe has experienced substantial growth in ICT, with the period between 2014 and 2015 seeing up to 10 percent improvement in this sector.
This is where our Government should be injecting revenue. Unlike many other sectors of the Zimbabwean economy, the ICT industry has remained remarkably resilient in the face of the macro-economic instability.
Our Government should be looking for policies that will stimulate growth and create new jobs.
ICT is one of the fastest growing industries directly creating thousands of jobs and is also an important enabler of innovation and development.
Zimbabwe has been ranked among the top five African countries with the fastest growth in telecommunication, infrastructure and mobile money innovations. The engine behind the rapid growth has been the mobile telephone which has caused a mobile revolution in the country.
Connectivity in Zimbabwe, whether internet or mobile connection, is increasingly bringing market information, financial services, agricultural services, health services to remote areas and is also helping to change people’s lives in unprecedented ways.
New information communication technologies (ICTs), in particular broadband high-speed internet, are changing the way companies do business thereby transforming public service delivery and democratising innovation.
Regarded as the fastest growing sector of the Zim- babwean economy, the ICT industry has recorded over $400 million investment.
According to the Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Honourable Supa Mandiwanzira, available statistics show that there is high growth registered by Zimbabwe’s ICT.
If supported and managed properly this is an area that will provide additional jobs and other value addition to stimulate growth in our economy.
Eng. Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi, Via e-mail.