The country will by 2014 have a paperless society

Zimbabwe has reached a turning point since the formation of a unity government last year February and ICT markets in the country are taking off like never before. The Global Political Agreement, as tentative as it is, coupled with the dollarisation of the economy after years of hyperinflation, have resulted in a surge in investment into the ICT sector in the country.

“We want to make sure that by 2014 we are the hub of ICT, by 2014 we are the centre for a technologybased economy, by 2014 we have a paperless society,” Chamisa told an ICT 2010 Achievers Awards dinner Saturday night.

“Gone are the days when we used to carry trolleys and trailers of papers in government buildings, in the offices of the various captains of industry. We now need to go online not to be in the line.”

Chamisa said he was forging ahead with plans for egovernment and announced the establishment of an ICT Government School. “The ICT Government School is going to be a focal point for equipping and training our civil servants,” he said.

“We believe our civil servants have performed wonders without that necessary exposure to ICT, have continued to keep this government together. But with a much more cosmopolitan world, we need to make sure that we have a roundly polished civil servant.”

Although the country is experiencing a chronic shortage of capital, and the political situation is far from stable, it is evident that there is a huge latent demand for ICT services. Zimbabwe has seen its mobile teledensity ramp up from nine percent in 2008 to 60 percent (per 100 population). The mobile cellphone market, both at the retail and infrastructure levels, has seen a massive boom. The minster is installing advanced technologies such as Wi-Fi, and laying down broadband infrastructure to connect to the undersea cables circling Africa.

He said he hopes to significantly increase the country’s dismal international internet bandwidth, a move he says will do much to stimulate the economy, Chamisa said. Several companies and individuals in the ICT industry, were recognised and awarded for the achievements they made in 2010.

Among them were the young ICT Innovator Of The Year, Top ICT Project Of The Year, ICT Business Woman and Businessman of The Year, ICT Company of The Year as well as ICT Journalist of The Year Award.