COMESA urges African countries to enhance access to ICT services

LUSAKA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) — The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a regional economic organization in Africa, on Thursday urged African countries to implement targeted policies to improve access to information and communications technology (ICT) services on the continent.
While acknowledging that access to and use of affordable ICT services was important to ensure economic development, COMESA Director for Infrastructure and Logistics Bernard Dzawanda said only 37 percent of Africa’s population uses the internet compared to the global average of 67 percent. Furthermore, only 25 percent were connected to the internet compared to the global average of 57 percent.
“The issue of affordability is very critical in achieving universal and inclusive access to ICT services. Even where service is available, internet use is constrained by low affordability of both the data a digital device,” he said at the start of a meeting on enhancement of governance and enabling environment in ICT program in Lusaka, the Zambian capital.
He reiterated the importance of ICT in driving development and regional integration within the COMESA bloc, noting that the organization has a strategic plan to foster digital transformation through appropriate policies and legislation.
Dzawanda emphasized the potential of ICT in addressing various challenges, including climate vulnerability, gender inequality, and health emergencies.
He stated that COMESA’s initiatives in enhancing governance and creating an enabling environment for ICT have led to significant progress, including the completion of studies related to roaming, interconnection, and optic fiber policies. ■