The Network Readiness Index (NRI) measures
the capacity of countries to exploit the opportunities offered
by the ever-changing Information and Communications Technology
sector. The NRI comprise of three components: the environment
for ICT offered by a given country or community, the readiness
of the community’s key stakeholders to use ICT’ s,
and the usage of the ICT amongst these stakeholders.
Zimbabwe recorded very poor figures of about 2.5 fixed lines
per 100 inhabitants, 6.5 mobile lines per 100 and less than 9.5
internet users per 100.
Currently Zimbabwe has three mobile networks that are characterised
by congestion and only one is in the process of enabling 3G services.
The internet remains accessible to a privileged few and access
is mostly affected by power outages and the ‘broken down’ fixed
landline system.
Zimbabwe once had the second growing Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) sector in sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa
but has since suffered due to collapse of the economy. The sector
has also suffered due to the neglect of policies like the National
Telecom Policy, National Postal Services Policy and the Universal
Services policy.
In 2001, the government of Zimbabwe announced a Universal Services
policy, modelled along the SADC Universal Services Guidelines.
The policy created a Fund to which operators contributed 5% of
their gross revenue to fund projects in areas that were underdeveloped
in terms of ICT’s. Revenue collected during the period
2001-2008 has since been eroded by the country’s harsh
inflation before any project could be implemented.
Zimbabwe’s Universal Services policy aimed at increasing
the number of landline telephones for every 100 individuals in
urban areas from 6.27% in 2003 to 10% in 2006, and from 0.43%
in 2003 to 3% in 2006 for rural tele-density. It also meant to
double internet access from 206 078 in 2003 to 500 000 in 2006.
According to the report of 2006-2007, Zimbabwe was ranked 117th
globally, and below all SADC countries except the Democratic
Republic of Congo, in the region.
The Minister of the new Information Communication Technology
ministry, Nelson Chamisa has since promised to revive the sector
by allocating frequencies for 3G services to mobile operators,
ensuring that the Value Added Tax (VAT) remains low as possible
on ICT’s that have become more of a luxury and to revisit
the Universal Services Fund now that the country’s ICT’s
services are charged in foreign currency.
Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: + 264 61 232 975
Fax:+264 61 248016
Mobile: 00 264 813 675 362
E mail rashweat@misa.org, misaalerts@gmail.com
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