Staff Reporter
Government has applauded the Ubuntunet for partnering with Zimbabwe
in facilitating and supporting research collaboration for the digital transformation of the higher education and research sectors.
Speaking on the occasion of the Ubuntunet annual general meeting today, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Dr Amon Murwira applauded Ubuntunet stating that the partnership was supporting development in that Ministry through capacity building.
“As a nation we are indebted to the Ubuntunet for partnering with National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) across the East, Southern Africa and indeed our very own Zimbabwe Research and Education Network (ZIMREN) to facilitate and support research collaboration for the digital transformation of the higher education and research sectors in our region by providing affordable broadband connectivity and related network services, actively working with Governments and stakeholders to expedite the establishment of NRENs as well as supporting development of our members through capacity building, infrastructure support, and direct engineering assistance (DEA),”said Professor Murwira.
Professor Murwira indicated that Vision 2030 of an Upper Middle Income Economy would be achieved if the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education was actively involved in the development of the country.
“Government of the Second Republic of Zimbabwe is on a rapid development trajectory, wherein we want to attain an Upper Middle Income society status by 2030.This will be through the modernization and rapid industrialization on the economy.
“Higher and tertiary education institutions have been called to drive this process. Our mantra: Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo (Loosely translated to a country is built by its inhabitants) forms the foundational basis upon which all our policy interventions are grounded,” he said.
Professor Murwira further mentioned that research and education networks were now well established globally.
“Let me also hasten to acknowledge that globally, research and education networks are now well established, and are even leading in terms of setting up high capacity links, and in the design of high performance networks,” said Professor Murwira.
Meanwhile, Ubuntunet is the alliance of Eastern and South African National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) supporting a vibrant connected research and education community in Africa.
