Luanda – The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Stergomena Lawrence Tax, reiterated this Friday the need for member states to facilitate and improve access to information technologies (I.Ts) and meteorology in the region.
Speaking online from Mozambique, at the opening of the meeting of the SADC Committee of Ministers of Information Technologies, Communication, Transport and Meteorology, she also pointed to the improvement of cross-border transport.
The official said that in the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT), the region has witnessed, in the last 40 years, the development of at least two cross-border fiber optic terrestrial links for regional and international traffic in transit, having advised decision makers in the region to create mechanisms for the review and modernization of model cyber-security laws.
She highlighted the effective implementation of the Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology, with several programs and projects being implemented, including the development of Model Legislation Provisions (MLP) which served as guidelines for the implementation of the agreed policies.
In 2008, a SADC Corridor Management Strategy was approved, which served as the basic framework for cooperation and coordination in transport integration.
The corridor strategy focuses on the development of Legal Instruments for the joint governance of corridors; Institutional cadres for joint and coordinated management of transport corridors; and setting the priorities and implementation of critical corridor transport and logistics infrastructure.
The development and implementation of the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, where several projects in transport, energy and ICT were implemented and facilitated cross-border transport, the movement of goods and services and, therefore, industrialization and trade internal SADC and the creation of the SADC Climate Services Centre, which contributed to strengthening the region's capacity in the production and dissemination of timely and credible meteorological and climate information that is used for socio-economic planning, and disaster risk management, were equally touched upon.
She recognized the critical importance and transformative power of digital technologies for socio-economic growth and development, as the explosive growth of ICT has created unprecedented opportunities in various sectors, and in terms of improving access and providing better services by governments in different socio-economic sectors.
The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted the importance of connectivity and resilient digital infrastructure, as well as the need for governments to proactively and promptly shape the formulation and implementation of ICT policy and regulatory approaches in times of crisis.
She congratulated the SADC Ministries, Regulators and ICT Operators for responding promptly and in a way that ensured wide access to ICT services despite the difficult operating environment.
On the other hand, Covid-19 also made it possible to clearly observe the digital gaps, which require additional efforts in order to ensure safe, accessible and universal connectivity for SADC citizens, regardless of their location, or socioeconomic status, considering this to be one of the priority areas in which the member states must continue to collaborate.
Although Covid-19 has affected the region, and continues to cause serious socio-economic disruption to SADC Member States, Stergomena Lawrence Tax commended SADC member states for the efforts and measures they continue to put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic.
On his turn, the State secretary for Telecommunications, Mário Oliveira, who heads the Angolan delegation, informed that during the meeting the country will review the process of the Angosat satellite, which will be used by the region.
He added that Angosat is in its normal course of construction, not only in terms of its physical nature, but also in the training of Angolan personnel in the field of space sciences.
The issue of digital television in the region, which he also considered to be at a good pace, the broadband project, as well as the extension of digital literacy, will also be addressed by Angola.
The meeting is part of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of SADC, taking into account that the organization succeeded the Coordination Conference for the Development of Southern Africa (SADCC), founded on 1 April 1980.
On August 17, 1992, at the Windhoek Summit, SADCC gave way to SADC, with the main objectives of promoting sustainable economic growth and development, reducing poverty, increasing the quality of life of the population, peace and security, strengthening and consolidation of cultural, historical and social affinities in the region.
The following are part of SADC: Angola, South Africa, Botswana (where it is headquartered), Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Seychelles.
