Zim’s Smart Technology approach gets thumbs up

THE Second Republic’s Smart Technology approach to economic transformation has received thumbs up from African states who have called for replication of the strategy across the continent.

After assuming power, the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa adopted deliberate engagement and re-engagement policies, as well as a digital economic transformation agenda hinged on the development of information communication technologies, which is key in the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1.

The digital economic agenda was quickly picked by the continent’s Smart Africa Alliance ( SAA) which gave Zimbabwe the mandate to lead smart agriculture through a blueprint called Agritech.

ICT, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti said when SAA decided that Transform Africa Summit ( TAS) be held outside Rwanda for the first time, Zimbabwe made a bid to host the event together with Congo and Mauritania.

“SAA sent a delegation to assess Zimbabwe’s readiness to host the event and they were satisfied with the work the Government has done in the digital transformation agenda particularly focusing on agriculture which resulted in the two other bidders supporting our bid,” he said.

The summit was attended by five heads of State last week, including 44 ministers and 4 000 delegates from 91 countries.

In an interview after the closing ceremony of TAS, Rwanda ICT and Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire said holding the event in Zimbabwe was not a mistake as the country had benchmarked a lot of initiatives that can be replicated in the region.