Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba and the Mutare City Council are set to host Zimbabwe Manicaland Smart City Summit and expo in November under the theme: ‘To Develop Zimbabwean Cities as Global Destinations – Offering High Quality Living to Citizens Using Technology-Based Solutions.’
The summit which will be the first of its kind in the country will be held on November 30, 2018 in Mutare.
Dr Gwaradzimba urged all interested parties to come to the event, which is aimed at educating people towards smart cities, urban planning technologies, innovation, promotion of business and connectivity.
She highlighted that Manicaland was responding to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra of Zimbabwe is open for business by having an expo that will attract many investors both locally and internationally.
“We are inviting Zimbabweans in business, government officials including His Excellency [President Emmerson Mnangagwa] and also heads of other government departments. The smart concept is an all embracing concept that includes all aspects of business and life. It is adopted in many countries including African countries like Rwanda. We are saying as Manicaland, Zimbabwe also wants to take the initiative but of course starting with Manicaland, where the wise men and women are. We want to take the lead and everyone else will follow,” she said.
Mutare City Town Clerk, Mr Joshua Maligwa said as a local authority, they are happy to be part of such an initiative as it will boost the city’s development.
“Mutare naturally by virtue of its geographical location we are supposed to be competing with cities like Durban and Cape Town, hence our adoption of the smart city concept so that we get into a position to compete regionally and internationally,” he said.
Smart city is commonly used by governments and planners to describe the vision and plan for the developments of advanced cities nowadays.
It is an evolving concept which encompasses ICT technologies, big data, open data as well as green and sustainable development.
Source: ZBC Online