Story by Abigirl Tembo
The use of modern technology has been cited as a vital component necessary for national security and accelerating sustainable development.
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa presented the first lecture of the year at the Zimbabwe National Defence University this Wednesday focusing on the evolution of information systems and how that has impacted national security.
Senator Mutsvangwa cited how the evolution of information technology systems is accelerating sustainable development on the globe.
She said, “In many ways, the evolution of information technology systems has been making the world a smaller place since the invention of the printing press. The evolution has created the internet, which from its origins as a secure, nuclear-proof communications system for the military, has become a truly global information system.
“Needless to say, this interaction between the world’s nations has been greatly facilitated by the information technologies evolution, thus collapsing time, de-terrorising space, and rendering traditional boundaries increasingly obsolete. Indeed, the more the technologies advance, the more they facilitate the opening up of both governments and Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to influence their members, to bottom-up and horizontal processes that have greatly complicated the tasks of governance on a global scale.
“For national governments, these changes and the vast proliferation of interconnections have fostered, confounded the traditional practices of diplomacy and the long-standing premises of national security.”
Senator Mutsvangwa also highlighted how the Second Republic is countering the scourge of misinformation by opening up the airwaves.
“The information fight is at the forefront as we strive to keep custody of the hearts and minds of the people. The information milieu is at the forefront of plausible and credible defence and security architecture. Long before your guns can be fired in anger. Zimbabwe must keep ahead in the information war. Its populace must be fully aware of itself at the community, national, regional and global levels.
“False flag operations, fake abductions by a sham opposition that are meant to besmirch will be brushed aside. Xenophobic schemes that thrive on false nationalism will have their impact reduced or neutralised.”
She added, “At the global stage, such awareness makes the post-imperialist enemy think twice about embarking on military adventurism against our state and nation. Clearly, my information task is an indispensable plank of your crucial role in ensuring defence and security for national survival and well-being.”
She further stressed the importance of investing in local content creation as a matter of enhancing national security.
