By Charles Motsi | Technology has moved at an exponential rate in the past twenty years probably more so than in the last hundred years. From VCRs, VCDs, CDs, Flash disks now you can just use WiFi or live stream a movie. Some of these innovations were just figments of the most imaginative individuals just a quarter of a century ago but now it is the reality we live in.
It is very easy to be left behind in this high speed technological world that has spawned Techno Moguls like Bill Gates (MicroSoft), Steve Jobs (Apple Inc), Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook) and many other Silicon Valley wizards.
The Government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has refused to have its youths left behind in the world of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). That is the main reason why the President, last week, had to be late for a crunch Politburo meeting in order to launch the National ICT Policy and Innovation Drive.
The Innovation Drive is a revolving fund that was a brainchild of the Ministry of ICT and Cyber Security which partnered the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) using funds from the Universal Services Fund (USF). The main goal of this noble initiative is to provide young innovative techno fundis with financial and technical support for them to bring their ideas to life for the betterment of the nation.
In his speech at the Innovation Drive launch, the Minister of ICT and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzira, said that he was proud of Zimbabwean youths and from his travels and experience with many Techno Gurus he discovered that home grown talent in ICTs was not something that was alien to Zimbabwe and could be achieved with the right incentives and support from Government.
He noted that the Innovation Fund would provide such support for those willing to work with Government to keep Zimbabwe in touch with global Tech giants.
The Innovation Drive will allow young innovators to develop their ideas into profitable businesses. In spite of providing financial help the fund will increase ICT research and development by young innovators and research institutions such as schools, universities, Polytechnic colleges and innovation hubs in Zimbabwe.
The fund will similarly increase the total number of home grown ICT applications and promote a culture of ICT innovation and development among Zimbabwean youths.
Since innovation hubs and incubation centres have proved to be a worthy strategy to promote the sharing and development of ideas, the fund also seeks to develop local techno hubs and incubation centres that will provide training and incubation services to beneficiaries of the fund.
This will result in a number of mentorship programs being natured and some partnerships all in a bid to share knowledge from established individuals in the industry to those wishing to venture into the industry.
The Fund will assist in educating beneficiaries on matters of intellectual property rights so that they are able to fully benefit from their work without fear of plagiarism or being bullied by bigger corporates into relinquishing ownership of their original ideas.
The Ministry of ICT revealed that it will be looking into sponsoring businesses in the field of Telecommunications based applications; ICT Software Applications; ICT Hardware; Applications for Postal and Courier Services; Intellectual property registration for approved ICT innovations and Establishment of Innovation Hubs / Incubation Centres.
Out of 188 applicants only six were handed with Start-up cheques by the President last week and these are Oyos; Purple Signs; Shift Organic Technologies; Red Pen; Afrimom; Native Project. These Innovators will get Loans that are repayable after a grace period of 6 to 12 months and the amounts vary depending on each specific business plan and budget as submitted.
There will be periodic reviews of on-going programs and also room for other innovators to submit their ideas for assessment and successful candidates will also get funded.
Let me take this opportunity to applaud Government for identifying youths’ potential in contributing to the nation’s development and availing such a fund and also wishing the best to all recipients in their endeavours.