The newly appointed Information, Communications, and Technology Minister of Zimbabwe, Tatenda Mavetera, has said that her priority will be to make affordable connectivity available to all. This could mean engaging with telecommunications guru Starlink to ensure that its services are available in the country.
Mavetera made the remarks shortly after taking an oath of office. She said that she was ready to talk with Starlink service providers and that she was confident that they could work together to make affordable internet access a reality for Zimbabweans.
“It’s a matter of us sitting down together with all these companies and seeing how best we can be able to navigate,” said Mavetera. “All we need to do is to engage.”
Mavetera also acknowledged that the ICT sector is a capital-intensive one that requires a lot of investment. However, she said that her ministry is open to engaging with anyone who is willing to invest in the sector.
“ICT is a capital-intensive program and you will realise it’s an industry which needs a lot of resources,” she said. “So we need to come up with measures that will also make us source resources from elsewhere to make sure that we sustain the industry.”
Mavetera’s commitment to making affordable connectivity a priority is a welcome development for Zimbabweans. The country has long struggled with poor internet access, and this has had a negative impact on education, business, and other sectors.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation that is being developed by SpaceX. The company has already launched over 2,000 satellites into orbit, and it plans to launch thousands more in the coming years. Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet access to areas that are not well-served by traditional internet providers.
If Mavetera is able to successfully engage with Starlink, it could be a major breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s ICT sector. Affordable internet access would open up new opportunities for businesses and individuals, and it would help to bridge the digital divide in the country.
It is important to note that Starlink is not yet available in Zimbabwe. The company has not yet received a license from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). However, Mavetera has said that she is confident that she can work with POTRAZ to get a license for Starlink.
If Starlink is able to launch in Zimbabwe, it would be a major step forward for the country’s ICT sector. Affordable internet access would have a positive impact on education, business, and other sectors. It would also help to connect Zimbabweans to the global community.
