News from Africa

Swaziland Prime Minister launches National ICT policy

6 August 2007

Over 180 participants attended the National ICT Policy Launch and Expo 2007 in Swaziland at the Royal Swazi Spa Convention Centre. The participants included His Excellency, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr Absalom Themba Dlamini, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Constance Simelane, Cabinet Ministers, Principal Secretaries, MP’s, members of the diplomatic corps, industry captains and members of the public.

In her welcoming remarks, ECA’s Director for the ICT, Science and Technology Divison (ISTD) Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, who was representing the ECA Executive Secretary, Mr. Abdoullie Janneh, advised participants that the successful deployment of ICTs can contribute to the development of knowledge societies in all nations of the continent and bridge the digital divide. She alluded to the pervasiveness of knowledge in production and that technology and knowledge were now the key factors of production and economic development. This realization, led to the launch of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) in May 1996 as a common vision for Africa’s quest to bridge the digital divide the basis for ICT activities in Africa. AISI remained the cornerstone of ECA’s activities to promote ICT in the development process as a means to accelerate African economic and social development and as a result, thirty-five countries had been supported in the development of ICT policies and plans.

The Director acknowledged the presence of His Excellency, the Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Absalom Themba Dlamini and senior government leadership and hailed this high level participation as an important ingredient for success of the policy process as evidenced in countries such as Rwanda. This, she stressed, indicated strong political will, adding “as long as there is political commitment, we are certain there will be speed in implementing the policy”. She assured participants that the ECA would continue to be Swaziland’s partner in promoting broad access to – and effective use of – knowledge and information as tools for equitable sustainable development.

In introducing the Prime Minister, the Hon Minister of Tourism, Environment and Communications, Ms Thandi Shongwe expressed her gratitude to ECA for the support that had culminated in this policy. She acknowledged that ICT’s were “an important tool for the achievement of the MDG’s”. She urged the private sector to play a discernible role in ensuring the translation of the policy to a plan that truly enhances the delivery of mainstream development goals whilst creating opportunities for the disadvantaged and empowering the poor.

His Excellency, the Right Honourable Prime Minister before launching the policy expressed his gratitude, stating, “special thanks to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) for all the technical support they have given to us during the drafting process” and advised that “His Majesty’s Government is committed to working with all stakeholders in the implementation of the ICT Policy” He acknowledged that the Government was cognizant of the fact that the dynamics of the 21st century dictated that ICT became the vehicle for development in all sectors of our society. He then stated the policy objectives and the ongoing activities in his Government.

In concluding, the Prime Minister appealed to the private sector “to work together with Government for the development of ICTs in the country” and “invited each and every citizen young or old, Government officials, politicians and corporate entities to take ICT seriously and give it the priority it deserves by investing in the sector which is a vehicle for our development as a country”.

The development of the national ICT policy of Swaziland was supported by the Government of Finland through the ECA/Finland Cooperation programme for the development of ICTs in Africa.

Source: UNECA (www.uneca.org)