The Zambia African National Congress

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Telecommunications

ICTs are making a strong contribution to the growth of traditional industries and are vital in increasing the competitiveness of all sectors of the economy by breaking down barriers to new markets and delivering more efficient ways to do business. Innovation at the firm level will be supported by a robust telecommunications infrastructure that helps provide industry access to broadband services at a reasonable cost.

The ZANC Government is supporting the creation and delivery across the country of:

Low-cost bandwidth for Zambia’s information intensive industries, new economy service sectors, education and health sectors and research and higher education
A wider choice of competitive telecommunications services to ns homes, businesses and schools
Entry opportunities for new, emerging and niche telecommunications providers in the country.

The government will do this through:

Seed investment in telecommunications facilities
Focus on telecommunications policy and strategy
Strong partnerships with the research and higher education community, private and community sectors and other tiers of government in the state.

The development of broadband infrastructure and services is a priority for the ZANC Government. The ZANC Government Broadband Action Plan will centre on opportunities arising from the government’s investment in a new fibre optic backbone and the telecommunications cable.

Most of Africa is already unified by airways, railways and roads although it is only to a limited extent. There is need to develop the road and railway network systems if Africa is to get closer and smaller. These are vital milestones to the unification of Africa. More over there is urgent need to link up electronically, by phone lines and emails. Though emails are done with the help of networks outside Africa, the establishment of pan-African networks would play a key role in bringing our peoples together.

More so, there is urgent need to establish a more efficient pan-African telecommunication system. Zambian leaders adhered to the establishment of Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU) way back in December, 1977 and by 2009; it is still much more expensive to make a cross boarder phone call than to reach a relative on the far end corner of a country. This is the same cry Pan-Africa Postal Union (PAPU) which entered into force in July 1980 still makes today. If Zambia and Africa need to develop, ways of communication must improve.

E-Unification may work faster that air, rail or road unification. This would call for Zambia as a state to develop and commercialize ICT (Information & Communications Technology), using intra-Africa joint ventures as main vehicle. This could be a major driver of economic rehabilitation and source of foreign exchange.

Zambia's aspirations are very strong. Across the country, people have the similar attributes and culture. The whole lot of Zambia aspires to be a modern high-tech prosperous economy. Zambia should intend to achieve part of its dreams through ICT and JVs (Joint Ventures) with the Asia Pacific Countries, Middle East, Europe and America. More so, we should intend to do so through Diaspora i.e. incorporation with African-Americans, Africa-Europeans, etc. In August 1975, African leaders adopted an inter-Africa Convention establishing an Africa Technical Co-operation Program. Up to this date it has not yet entered into force. Yet another white elephant Africa cannot afford to keep.

Zambia has strengths especially in software. Currently the main industry in this field is assembly. However, our country has done a less significant effort in complementarities with countries like China, German, Japan, Korea, USA etc. In the past, we could note that the AU is somewhat committed and shows widespread interest in ICT. However, the implementation part could be feasible only in if individual countries like Zambia start the working towards the goal. If geo-political situation allows, then the ICT could be a major driver for economic rehabilitation and growth, export earnings and integration of the African economy.

ICT ventures would include:

Web: the launch of Zambian websites drawing aspects and issues from all corners of the country. The web the current situation includes only a handful of websites for Zambia, very few of which are run by the government.

Animation: Africa has played a significant role in providing settings for film animation (e.g. The Lion King) yet this root of the film industry has not been developed or utilized to its full potential in Zambia. The now computer graphics can be developed and can readily provide contract work for local and foreign filmmakers.

Software:

The question arises, when will Zambia take part in the software production, exhibition and expo? We are in the 21st century yet no one has ever heard of a Zambia brand of radio or TV set. Zambia is not that far behind in science and technology. The potential is there but it is suppressed by the size of our plans on economy. Now is the time to enhance software production, exhibition and expo.

This calls for the initiation of the government of Zambia to recruit and hire e-wizards into the government establishment of science and technology. The work of the electronic wizards in Zambia can only work to its full potential if the geniuses from every corner of the country put their heads together to incorporate their work.