[ItNewsAfrica] High hopes exists that the formation of a government of national unity in Zimbabwe will revive the troubled information and communications technology sector in Zimbabwe.

Like many sectors in the Southern African country’s comatose economy, the industry has not been spared the economic downturn that has bedeviled Zimbabwe in the last decade.

Newly-appointed Minister of Technology Nelson Chamisa said he was hopeful that some measures devised by the government of national unity would breathe life to the sector.

“The inauguration of a Government of national unity, in Zimbabwe has introduced some changes worthy noting. A new Ministry of Information Communication Technologies was created and has taken over ICTs related functions previously housed under the former Ministry of Transport and Communications,” he said in an interview.

“Recently, Zimbabwe introduced a phased liberalisation of exchange controls as well as trade in foreign currency. This has resulted in business charging for goods and services in foreign currency. It is hoped that these initiatives will enable ICT companies to recapitalize and improve the quality of their service provision.”

Previously, the economic challenges facing Zimbabwe, such as inflation at more than 200 million percent saw mobile operators in Zimbabwe unilaterally bill consumers in scarce foreign currency, incurring the wrath of government and subscribers.

They cited avaibility challenges.

Chamisa concurred the economic challenges had hampered the growth of the sector.

“Like any other sector of the economy, the ICTs sector in Zimbabwe has been undergoing tremendous economic challenges. This had resulted in a near stagnation in the growth of the sector mainly due to foreign currency shortages which hampered any efforts to expand and modernize existing networks,” he said.

Mthulisi Sibanda
http://www.itnewsafrica.com