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Contextualising
ICT for development in Zimbabwe
E-Knowledge for Women in Southern Africa (EKOWISA) and SANGONeT
July 15, 2009
http://www.ngopulse.org/article/contextualising-ict-development-zimbabwe
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The main focus of this
research report is ICT4D issues and their role in tackling social
and economic problems in Zimbabwe. It includes an assessment and
analysis of the institutional, legislative and regulatory landscape
in Zimbabwe in terms of how they support ICT4D.
This deliberate focus
resulted from the observation that other ICT sectors were not performing
maximally due to the political and socio-economic problems in the
country. In addition, the policy and regulatory process had attracted
government, the National Economic Constitution Forum (NECF) and
donor funding in recent years, leading to some concerted activities.
For example, the Ministry of Science and Technology, with funding
from the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), spearheaded
the work on the ICT Bill. The draft document on estrategies and
implementation framework was developed concurrently with the ICT
Policy Framework, with funding from UNDP. The ICT Policy Framework
was officially launched in 2005 while work on the e-strategies and
implementation was shelved until the institutional, legal and legislative
processes recommended by the ICT Policy were established.
The role of ICTs in development
has been recognised by the Zimbabwean government through such landmark
measures as the e-Readiness Survey (2004), and the National ICT
Policy Framework (2005), which recommended the institution of a
National Information and Communication Technology Authority and
a Converged Regulator. This has led to the current participatory
work on the draft ICT Bill which sets out the key legislation and
regulation framework regarding the access and use of ICTs in Zimbabwe.
These measures provide
for an enabling ICT environment for business, public administration
and services delivery, education and communications. In the Government
of National Unity, a new Ministry for ICTs was established; this
should ensure that ICTs receive budget allocations and the attention
they deserve, with expectations of reforms, growth and development
in the sector.
Moreover, the new inclusive
government has prioritised the revamp of the national constitution,
and this presents an an opportunity to ensure that ICT4D foundations
are included in this principal tool of governance and democracy.
The report was compiled
by Margaret Munguze of the E-Knowledge for Women in Southern Africa
(EKOWISA).
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