Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
MINISTERS responsible for Transport, ICT, Information and Meteorology from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have convened in Bulawayo for a five-day meeting aimed at strengthening regional integration and promoting intra-African trade.
The SADC Cluster Meeting has brought together member states to review progress and identify strategies for enhancing connectivity, infrastructure development and information sharing across the region.
Addressing delegates, Chairperson of the Committee of Senior Officials Responsible for Transport, ICT, Information and Meteorology, Ms Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan Dyani, underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing regional economic transformation.
“There is a need for us to strengthen collaboration in areas of transport and infrastructure development. These sectors are important enablers of economic transformation for the region. Through the meeting, we are also reviewing the progress that we have made as a region with regard to transport and infrastructure development. Our aim as the SADC Cluster is to see a seamless movement of traffic,” she said.
The meeting also highlighted the critical role of private sector investment in supporting infrastructure development and improving access to essential services.
“It is important for citizens to receive daily warning messages, so we are calling on private players to partner with us and assist in ensuring that citizens have access to affordable devices for accessing critical information and alerts,” Ms Dyani said.
Information integration featured prominently on the agenda, with discussions focusing on plans to establish a dedicated SADC television channel to promote regional content and tell the African story from an African perspective.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, said the region is building on existing initiatives such as Eye on SADC, a content-sharing platform for national broadcasters.
“One of the issues we discussed in the morning session was the issue of the SADC channel. For example, we have what we call Eye on SADC. Eye on SADC is where national broadcasters from across the region post content about their countries, and other countries then select what they want. You will be pleased to know that Zimbabwe has contributed the most content to that platform, accounting for about 20 percent of the material available. We are discussing the launch of a SADC channel, and all profits generated from that channel will be shared equally among SADC member states,” he said.
On the ICT front, discussions centred on reducing the high cost of data services, which remain a barrier to digital inclusion for millions of people across the region.
Permanent Secretary in Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Beaullah Chirume, said the meeting was critical in advancing digital transformation and inclusivity.
“That is an important meeting, particularly with regard to ICT development within the country and the region. We have been discussing decisions relating to the pricing of data across the SADC bloc and issues of inclusivity,” she said.
The SADC Cluster Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport, ICT, Information and Meteorology runs until Friday, with its resolutions expected to contribute towards enhancing regional connectivity and unlocking opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
