By Tendai Chisiri
First of its kind to be held outside Rwanda, 6th edition of Transform Africa Summit (TAS) will be held at the Victoria Falls from the 26th to the 28th of April with the preparations at the final stage.
Briefing the media at a press conference for the upcoming global event Monday, Minister of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said Zimbabwe is geared to host 3000 delegates from more than 100 countries to engage on the digital transformation of the continent across multiple sectors.
The TAS is the leading Africa tech and digital event organised by Smart Africa that will run under the theme, “Connect, Transform and Innovate. “The theme of this year’s edition TAS23 focuses on regulation and policy, digital infrastructure financing, capacity building and skills development and digital continental trade among other key aspects”, Muswere said.
Heads of States, who constitute Smart Africa’s Board, Ministers of ICT, International Industry leaders and key players in the ICT will attend the three-day event aimed at making core decisions for Africa’s socio- economic development through ICT.
The summit will be open for public participation exhibitions and in the over 50 multiple discussion panels and round tables lined up during the three-day ICT jamboree. His Excellency, President Mnangagwa will officially open the Summit and welcome other Heads of States including H.E. President PAUL Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda and the chairman of Smart Africa Board who will convene Board meeting at the Summit.
Beyond the continental outreach, delegations from Estonia, Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Serbia among other nations are expected to attend the Summit.
“As a member of Smart Africa, we are committed to ensuring that technology can change the lives of our citizens here in Zimbabwe and across the continent. We are cognizant that this cannot be done alone and therefore we are extremely pleased to welcome the Smart Africa Alliance family to Zimbabwe’s prime resort town of Victoria Falls”, Muswere said.
“This is the first time and 6th edition of TAS to be held outside Rwanda as to harness its full potential on African continent. We are proud to host the delegates to the summit in Victoria Falls between 26th to 28th April 2023 and this underlines our deep commitment to Africa’s development through ICTs”, he added.
H.E. President Macky Sall from Senegal and H.E Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi are also expected to attend the Summit. The Summit will also convene key international organisations leaders such as Doreen Bogdan- Marti Secretary General of International Telecommunications Union (ITU), along with H.E. Wamkele Keabetswe MENE, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) and Deemah AlYahya, Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCCO).
Smart Africa head of partnerships and stakeholder engagement , Garikai Nhongo said Victoria Falls is the host place because of its conducive environment. This is the first time that the Summit will be held outside Kigali. Zimbabwe is certain to be a befitting destination to host the Summit”, Nhongo said.
“Every country member in TAS is given a flagship to work on from our objectives and everyone is is happy with the preparations taking place”, he added.
Smart Africa is an alliance of 36 African countries, international organisations and global private sector players tasked with Africa’s digital agenda. The alliance is empowered by a bold and innovative commitment by African Heads of State to accelerate socio- economic development on the continent and usher Africa into the knowledge economy through affordable access to broadband and use of ICTs.
With a vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030, the Smart Africa Alliance brings together Heads of States who seek to accelerate the digitalization of the continent and create a common market.
Launched in 2013 by seven African Head of States, the Alliance now has 36 member countries, representing over 1 billion people and over 40 private sector members committed to the vision and advancement of Africa.
Zimbabwe joined in 2001 as the 26th member of the Smart Africa Alliance. Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services completed the development of its three-year strategic plan which dovetails with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Masterplan in December 2020.
Zimbabwe government anticipates that the ICT sector will drive the Zimbabwean economy going forward.
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), general director Gift Machengete and Smart Africa head of brand and communications Yvan Guehi graced the press conference.
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