STAFF WRITER
The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, will headline the Zimbabwe Telecommunications Conference hosted by Business Times.
The high-profile indaba is slated for March 14 at a local hotel. It brings together local captains of the industry. Global telecom experts, venture capitalists, representatives from regulatory bodies, non-profit organisations focusing on digital inclusion and academia specialising in technology and socio-economic development are also expected to participate as key speakers.
The indaba is running under the theme “Connecting the Unconnected: Bridging the Digital Divide” which was motivated by the pressing need to address the digital disparities prevalent within Zimbabwean communities.
Business Times’ Business Development Executive, Caroline Konje, said the conference will bring together industry players and presents a perfect opportunity for dialogue for the good of the industry.
“We are happy to facilitate this dialogue process cognisant of the Minister’s open-door-policy ever since she came into office. It’s a policy that has excited the industry and against that background, it brings us great pleasure to bring all industry players, local and international, under one roof to discuss issues affecting the industry,” she said.
“We have a star-studded line-up to speak and of course interact with the Minister for a common purpose, that is to have a strategy around a vibrant telecoms sector in the country.”
A key focus of the indaba will be to explore innovative solutions, regulatory strategies, and collaborative efforts aimed at bridging the digital divide within the Zimbabwean context. Participants will engage in discussions on the state of digital inclusion and exclusion as well as possible collaborative solutions amongst stakeholders as well as policy and regulatory frameworks to promote digital inclusion efforts.
