Section III
THE POLICY
An analysis of the ICT Policy of 2005 and its outcomes has resulted in the following policy
interventions that shall seek to build on the former Policy’s successes and address the subsequent
challenges that have ensued.
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Key Policy Objectives
The policy provides strategic direction on how ICT development and application enables
national socio-economic transformation. The policy aims to leverage the strengths and
opportunities available for the country. The ICT policy goals are to realise:
A. Transformation - Facilitate delivery of Zim-ASSET and other National
Developmental goals
B. Growth – Enable and foster access to and increased use of
telecommunications/ICT in all spheres of life (such as e-Government, e-Commerce, eEmployment, ICT in education, ICT in health, ICT in science and ICT in agriculture)
C. Leadership - Achieve ICT leadership in Africa
D. Inclusiveness –Bridge the digital divide and provide broadband for all
E. Sustainability – Manage challenges resulting from the telecommunication/ICT
development
F. Innovation and partnership – Lead, improve and adapt to the changing
telecommunication/ICT environment
6.1
Transformation - Facilitate
Developmental goals
delivery
of
Zim-ASSET
and
other
National
The policy objective is to use ICT as an enabler to achieve the objectives of the four Zim-ASSET
Clusters. This is a medium to long term strategy with cross-cutting benefits on the entire socioeconomic transformation agenda. To achieve this goal, ICT is not delivered as a standalone
sector, but it is embedded in all national development strategies and is a tool to enable all
economic sectors.
As an example, one of the Zim-ASSET Clusters is Social Services and Poverty Reduction. There
are many causes of poverty which are mutually reinforcing and the absence of ICT makes it
worse, for instance situations where poor citizens require access to basic information and
knowledge on health, education, prices and public welfare services. Inadequate ICT access
results in service delivery inefficiencies which then also increases the transaction costs.
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