Zim to focus on digital technologies, e-commerce and learning

By Gift Mashoko

Zimbabwe is in the process of reviewing its curriculum with a view to shifting the focus towards digital technologies, e-commerce and e-learning, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

Addressing delegates at the Second Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum in China recently, Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that Zimbabwe would ensure that its curriculum is revised and be aligned to the digital world with the hopes of increasing academic exchanges between Africa and China.

“Connected to this is the need to ensure that our curriculum is relooked at with a view of shifting the focus towards digital technologies, e-commerce and e-learning. Zimbabwe thus welcomes the recent launch of the China-Africa institute which was established under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of social sciences as one of President Xi Jinping’s 8 major initiatives.

“It is our hope that this platform will increase academic exchanges between China and Africa and facilitate cooperation especially in key areas in Belt and Road International, in the training of high end professions and talent identification related to the digital economy,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said that Zimbabwe’s infrastructural development has been affected by the illegally imposed sanctions upon it.

“Our infrastructure is fairly above average in Africa, However, two decades of the hostile Geo-politics and sanctions illegally imposed on us has resulted in our infrastructure now lagging behind the world that has been embracing digital technologies with business models based on digital goods and services.

“In that regard, it is our sincere hope that we as a country will benefit from operations within the Chinese companies as well as institutions,” she said.

The Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum is an open and efficient international cooperation platform which brings a closer, stronger partnership network and it is meant to push for a more just, reasonable and balanced international governance system. It is also meant to be an opportunity for the signing of cooperation agreements with countries and international organizations in areas of financial cooperation mechanism.

The Forum is also meant to be a cooperation platform for science, technology and environmental protection and enhanced exchanges and training of talent and financing agreements for backing projects.