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From Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE 13TH edition of the Innovation Africa Digital Summit (IAD) officially opened here yesterday with calls for transforming Zimbabwe into an Information Communication Technology (ICT) manufacturing hub. More than 500 delegates from 45 countries worldwide are attending the summit whose aim is to share notes on how to increase ICT development as well as coming up with innovative ways of tackling challenges.

In his welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North, Cain Mathema, said affordability of ICT services can only be achieved if Zimbabwe takes a stride towards manufacturing such gadgets for easy accessibility.

“While commendable progress has been made in the development of ICT in African countries, the continent has to tackle the issue of cost in accessing information, which doesn’t relate to disposable incomes of its citizens. Reduction of access costs is imperative if the continent is to move quickly towards establishing itself as an information society, consistent with the developed and developing countries elsewhere. It’s also imperative that we also embark on the manufacturing of gadgets because the more we produce, the more they become cheaper,” said Mathema.

He said ICT development has capacity to bridge inequalities, not only in Zimbabwe but in Africa as a whole.

Mathema made a passionate plea to relevant ministries to upgrade Victoria Falls, the government’s venue for conferences, into an ICT hub, the same way it is the tourism hub.

“Because Victoria Falls is a tourism hub, why can’t we make it a centre for ICT so that as we add value to tourism we also add value to ICT?” said Mathema.

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira concurred, saying the government was committed to its cause despite challenges such as economic sanctions.

Minister Mandiwanzira said the summit was a proper platform for Zimbabwe and the whole continent to transform themselves into manufacturing zones through partnership.

He singled out Chinese ICT solutions provider Huawei as the best partner to open manufacturing plants in the country.

“Zimbabwe must be a country where manufacturers should start choosing to build manufacturing plants. We’ve companies like Huawei that can be useful. We should promote not only affordable services but increase access for our people,” he said.

Huawei started operating in Zimbabwe in 1999 and has built 1,100 base stations countrywide as it cooperates with local ICT service providers in terms of fixed services, wireless and fibre optic solutions.

Although there are no plans to open a manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe by Huawei, the company remains committed to working with the local ICT industry.

“Huawei is closely working with suppliers and partners in the ICT industry in Zimbabwe and it’s seeking more opportunities to cooperate further with the local industry through introducing the most advanced ICT technologies and cultivating ICT talents. We believe that ICT talents is the key capital to drive the ICT development in Zimbabwe,” said Huawei vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa David Wang.

“We believe that the joint efforts between government and Huawei in ICT development will accelerate the progress of building a better connected Africa. Huawei’s efforts in building a better connected Africa was acknowledged by the government of Zimbabwe and Minister Mandiwanzira recognised Huawei as an ICT giant in the world, with the expertise and global deployment experience to provide affordable access in Zimbabwe, ” he said.

The three-day summit which started on Tuesday, ends today and is running under the theme “Affordable access.”