Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
ZIMBABWE will next month host the 6th Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls with over 3 000 delegates expected to attend the event.
The three-day Transform Africa Summit is set to provide a platform for discussion on Africa’s socio-economic development through information communication technologies and will be attended by heads of state, captains of industry and key ICT resource persons.
Event organisers are therefore upbeat about the success of the summit.
Marketing Events and Partnerships Smart Africa Division Manager Mr Garikayi Nhongo noted, ‘‘We are committed to ensuring that technology can change the lives of our citizens here in Zimbabwe and across the continent, we are cognisant that this cannot be done alone and therefore we are extremely pleased to welcome the Smart Africa Family to Zimbabwe. This is the first time and 6th edition of the summit to be held outside Rwanda so as to harness its full potential in the African Continent.’’
Zimbabwe is also expected to benefit immensely from the summit.
Postal Telecommunications and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Director General Dr Gift Machengete said, ‘‘It is a global show of confidence on what Zimbabwe is doing remember we are focusing on a digital economy and as we seek to ensure that no one is left behind this summit provides us with an opportunity to look on ways that can be done in harnessing technologies and exchange the relevant ideas with several guests as well as look forward to creating an environment for growth in the country’s overall ICT industries.’’
The government has taken further steps to ensure the summit is a success in broadening the digital economy agenda under the National Development Strategy One aspirations.
Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services Honourable Jenfan Muswere noted, ‘‘We are proud to host the delegates in Victoria Falls between the 26th to 28th April 2023 and this underlines our deep commitment to Africa’s development through ICT, the summit will be open for public participation in exhibitions and in over 50 multiple discussion panels and roundtables lined up during the three day ICT jamboree. His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa President of the Republic of Zimbabwe will officially open the summit and welcome other heads of state including H.E President Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and the Chairman of the Smart Africa Board who will convene a board meeting at the summit, HE President Macky Sall from Senegal and HE Lazarus Chakwera President of Malawi are also expected to attend the summit.’’
‘Connect, transform and innovate’ is the theme of this year’s edition of the Transform Africa Summit, which has also attracted delegates from as far as Germany, Estonia, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Serbia.
