ICT technologies have become an important means to address difficulties especially during Covid-19.
Here we publish an article by The CEO of HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES Zimbabwe (Private) Limited Chad Wei where he illustrates the current situation in the ICT field in Zimbabwe.
By Chad Wei
They say changes call for innovation and innovation leads to progress; that maxim holds true especially that we are living in a world that demands real-time solutions to so many challenges that we are faced with. Some of the most critical solutions lie in technology and that is the more reason why the whole world is careening into a digital revolution every day that comes.
Technology makes life better and easy and in so many ways, it has taught us that the world has evolved and humanity cannot do without tech and innovation. For instance amidst COVID-19, Zimbabwe recently underwent what was dubbed as partial lockdown, with a raft preventive and control measures including social distancing put in place.
Like anywhere else in the world, most activities shifted from offline to online and many government departments were not sure of how to actualize social distancing, considering their busy schedules that often demand for physical meetings. But thanks to technology, it came in handy to provide video conference equipment to various government ministries.
That technology brought another chapter where Zimbabwe’s Ministry of health took part in a video conference on the exchange of anti-epidemic experience between Chinese experts and their African counterparts, which was organized by China in March.
It is in such desperate situations that the power of technology comes alive and appreciated by many. In that Zimbabwe’s scenario, technology demonstrates that in terms of physical proximity, people can be so far apart but too much close through the use of ICT’s.
As we move towards a world with almost everything smart, technology is becoming synonymous to development. It is no longer ironic that the most prosperous nations today, are those that are harnessing technology to capture social and economic opportunities that come along with it.
Against that backdrop, Zimbabwe aspires to become an advanced digitally propelled nation by the year 2030 and it has an ambitious ICT blue-print that will enable it to fully utilize technology and innovation in order turn around its economy.
The Master Plan also features ideas that may propel it to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) that are in relation to advocate for advancing science and technology.
The path that Zimbabwe has taken is creditable owing to the fact that enhancing science, technology and innovation is a critical component of its transformational culture for a digital Zimbabwe.
Here is why I say so; over two decades ago, Zimbabwe’s technology was in its infancy stages and it needed conceited efforts to be propelled to another level. Many so many ways, analogue systems were a backbone. Mobile and internet network was scarce and digital transactions were unheard of. Fast forward today, Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress in terms of increasing its ICT capacities.
Even though Zimbabwe’s ICT sector is still developing, it is easy to tell that it has grown in leaps and bounds following massive investments that have taken place over the years.
But who has been partnering with Zimbabwe on its quest to become a digital nation, is the question that deserves a response.
Of course the Government of Zimbabwe has been a pioneer of so many ICT initiatives through its ICT Master Plan.
Zimbabwe’s up-to-the minute ICT records suggest that Huawei in collaboration with the Government and other ICT players have contributed immensely to its modern ICT revolution. Zimbabwe has built thousands of base stations, including more than hundreds of 4G base stations.
In addition, Huawei has cooperated with Net One to build communications infrastructure in which Phase 1 was completed in 2013 and phase 2 was completed in 2017. Two local major Government telecommunication companies have been in constant technical collaboration, in ensuring that Huawei’s efforts in building communication infrastructure yields desired results.
At least through so many collaborative efforts that have resulted to a number of milestones, millions of Zimbabweans, even in some of the most remote areas are able to access mobile network.
With a vision whose aim is to bring digital to every person, place and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world, Huawei parts seeks to build a sustainable and reliable network that covers every part of Zimbabwe.
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