Story by Owen Mandovha
State-owned enterprises are on a drive to spearhead national economic development and transformation of livelihoods through various innovations and projects.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was amazed by the Dubai government’s smart city traffic and human management when he visited the country in February this year and promised to replicate that in Zimbabwe.
State-owned telecommunications firm, TelOne, is piloting a smart city traffic management system which if successful, will replace physical policing.
“We are piloting the traffic management system remember the President went to Dubai and spoke about adopting their modern management systems. We are in the process of piloting that project whereby there is no need for physical policing,” said TelOne’s managing director, Mr Lawrence Nkala.
Another state-owned entity, NetOne, is also spearheading tech-led health service provision in rural areas.
“NetOne is aiding the government’s quest to avail health services even in remote areas by providing internet services for subscribers working with doctors for supplying health information by mobile means and then avail a health practitioner for the patients,” said Netone’s chief executive officer, Mr Raymond Mushanawani.
Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera said, “I’m excited by the strides being made by our parastatals in driving economic growth and development and the adoption of modern ICT. The use of artificial intelligence is being adopted at a very phenomenal rate for use in industries. We are glad that this will facilitate the attainment of national economic development.”
Meanwhile, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Honourable Felix Mhona has toured parastatals under his department at the ZITF and was impressed by their contribution to economic progression.
“The Ministry has instituted varying reforms to contribute to national economic development.”
Innovation has been cited as a key enabler to achieve rapid industrialisation and government has underscored the need to spearhead technological innovation as a fundamental pillar to national economic development towards Vision 2030.