National broadband plan to enhance Zim global competitiveness

The National Broadband Plan (2023-2030) which Cabinet approved late last year, seeks to enhance the
country’s global competitiveness and productivity as it adapts to the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services
Minister Tatenda Mavetera said this while officially opening the Postal
Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) annual strategic planning
workshop in Mutare on Monday.

She said the government had come up with the plan after realising its
importance and transformative benefits to national development and
overall quality of life.

“The National Broadband Plan is a nationwide initiative to provide
access to, and adoption of Broadband services at Government, business,
household and individual levels, with the aim of transforming Zimbabwe’s
growth trajectory from being largely driven by resource-based exploits
to innovation driven growth.

“It is envisaged that the National Broadband Plan will enhance the
country’s global competitiveness; increase job creation and
productivity, improve education, agriculture, health and governance in
general, all of which are prerequisites for achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals,” she said.

She said in the same vein, the government has devdeloped the Smart
Zimbabwe Master Plan, which is set to give direction to the country’s
various smart initiatives such as the Smart City initiative which
intends to have security cameras installed around the capital city for
improved security and more efficient traffic control.

“In addition to this, the Government has developed a National ICT Policy
to replace the ICT Policy of 2016, which has now been overtaken by the
rapid technological changes and new technological demands over the past
few years.

“The ICT Policy above all things, seeks to ensure meaningful
connectivity for all, which entails a safe, satisfying, enriching and
productive online experience at an affordable cost. Meaningful
connectivity is measured and determined by good Internet speeds,
adequate bandwidth and availability of reliable Internet enabled devices
such as laptops, tablets and smartphones,” she said.

Mavetera said the aspired vision of the government in the new
technologies is ‘An All-Inclusive Digital Society Powered by Premier
Innovations by 2030’.

She lauded POTRAZ for being on the right trajectory and in sync with the
Government towards the successful implementation of the three policy
instruments (National Broadband Plan, the Smart Zimbabwe Master Plan and
the National ICT Policy) and urged the entity to continue on the same
course.

“As a Ministry our job is to give policy direction and for POTRAZ, yours
is to moot appropriate regulations, projects and programs that
facilitate and ensure fruition of Government policies. As government, we
will not direct on what regulatory interventions to make or projects to
undertake although we may suggest some interventions for your
consideration as the implementing agents for ICT development,” she
explained.

New Ziana