By Dumisani Ndlovu
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday officially launched the second phase of the National Rail Fibre Optic Project in Somabula,Gweru district.
The project is meant to mordenise, and increase access to, telecommunication services in the country.
The first phase of the project started in Beitbridge along the railway line to Rutenga, Somabula, Bulawayo, Hwange and Victoria Falls.
The second phase has seen the network extending from Somabula via Gweru to Harare as well as Bulawayo-Plumtree and Harare-Mutare.
Addressing a bumper crowd at Somabula Secondary school where he officially launched the National Rail Fibre Optic Project, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said
the fact that he was launching the important policies and the Fibre Optic Backborn Network in Somabhula is a clear demonstration that the second republic is walking the talk and committed to realising development that leaves no one and no place behind.
“I want to thank the people of Somabhula and the Midlands Province for coming out in your numbers to witness this event,”he said.
” The policies we are launching today are in line with our National Development Strategy, where we aim to make sure that all our communities have access to affordable, fast and safe digital technologies.
“This has become important as societies and economies are now very dependent on ICT,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also said the National ICT policy outlines the guiding framework and development priorities for the ICT sub-sector.
“It will help promote digital know how, innovation,the use of artificial intelligence and Machine learning, while also strengthening our country’s cyber-security measures,” he said adding that his administration is creating a good environment for the growth of a digital economy which he said empowers communities, no matter where they live.
The project which is being implimented by Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) group will see Zimbabwe being the epicentre of internet traffic in Africa.
