Ministries urged to harness Artificial Intelligence
Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
The joint portfolio committees on ICT, Postal and Courier Services and the Media and Broadcasting Services have been challenged to come up with legislation that promotes ease of doing business in a digital world.
At an induction workshop for the joint portfolio committees on ICT, Postal and Courier Services and Media and Broadcasting Services held in Masvingo, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said the two committees must support their relevant ministries in ensuring they explore the use of artificial intelligence to drive the country’s economy.
Advocate Jacob Mudenda said, “The two ministries under your committees have a huge task of harnessing artificial intelligence for the benefit of national development. However, it is important that you support them through coming up with legislation which support that vision at the same time promoting easy of doing business in a digital world,” he said.
The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services says they have made progress in realigning the legal and regulatory framework to the provisions of the constitution.
“At policy level, the Zimbabwe Media Commission Ammendment Bill and the Broadcasting Services Ammendment Bill are going through internal legal processes. The Ministry is also working on a media policy that will enhance operations of the media sector. All these efforts are to promote a friendly working environment for the media,” said Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Omphile Marupi.
The Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services is in the process of drafting the Smart Zimbabwe masterplan and the Artificial Intelligence policy in line with the Vision 2030 agenda.
“As a ministry, we are looking at strategies that ICTs can be harnessed for maximum efficiency in service delivery. At policy level we are working on the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 masterplan, National Broadbandbplan among others,” said the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courrier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera.
The two-day workshop has also seen parastatals under the two ministries presenting before the joint committees on their mandate and functions.
