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From Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
CHINESE Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions company, Huawei Technologies, has commended Zimbabwe’s investment climate and pledged to expand investment, having built more than 1,000 base stations in the country since 1999. With its headquarters in South Africa, the firm says Zimbabwe remains a magnet for world class ICT hub.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Innovation Africa Digital Summit for 2015, which ended here yesterday, Huawei vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa David Shunli Wang said Zimbabwe had the ability to grow into a digitalised ICT economy.

“Zimbabwe has the potential to achieve its targets. We’ve been working closely with the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) towards digitalisation and at the moment we’re at the stage of delivery,” said Wang.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo recently told the National Assembly that Zimbabwe was in the right direction towards meeting the June 17, 2015, broadcasting digitalisation deadline after the government secured $200 million through issuance of a data casting licence to NetOne to fund the migration from analogue system to digital.

The data casting licence was issued to NetOne by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe at a cost of $200 million after an open, transparent and competitive licensing process in accordance with the Broadcasting Services Act, Prof Moyo said.

Upon securing the $200 million BAZ engaged Huawei Technologies, to implement the digital migration on the basis of a feasibility study submitted to the government last year.

Wang said he was confident they would meet the deadline as per their agreement with the Zimbabwean government.

“We’ve a good relationship with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services and we’re confident we’ll meet the deadline.

“I believe we’ll do our best. This will take time but Zimbabwe has the ability and in the near future you will see progress,” he said.

Earlier on Wang had said Africa was faced with a number of challenges such as shortage of ICT talent and that Huawei was running a programme “Seeds for future” with the aim of equipping youths with training.

Under this programme, he said, 10 Zimbabweans will be going for training in China later this year.

ICT, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Win Mlambo said telecomunications were a major contributor to any country’s Gross Domestic Product.

He said Zimbabwe was eager to participate at ICT events to help achieve goals of the ZimAsset.

The 13th IAD summit was held under the theme “Affordable access” and attended by more than 500 delegates from 45 countries.

The purpose of ICT summit was to provide essential support services to policy makers, regulators and solution providers in order to achieve industry development and trade facilitation.

The theme was crafted with hope that ICT will help Africa provide affordable ICTs and improve their utilisation.