"MY GRANNY CAN SEND ME SMS"

[ADDIS ABABA 1st/FEB/2010 by WANJOHI KABUKURU] Mozambique has embarked on an ambitious Information and Communication Technology Park whose initial construction cost is estimated to cost some $25 million.
“We know this is a large amount of money to invest in such a venture but we are convinced that the multiplier effects will pay off in the long run. We are looking forward at e-skilling our public and this technology park is envisaged to be an incubator for knowledge, skills and innovation generation” Venancio Mussingue the Mozambican minister for science and technology revealed this on the sidelines of the African Union's 14th Heads of State summit which is solely dedicated to ICTs.
This is indeed a huge undertaking for the South African nation with a population of 17 million and richly endowed in natural resources such as tantalum, titanium and graphite and massive hydro-electric potential.
“As a government we are looking forward at our population enjoying the benefits of e-government, tele-medicine, e-learning, e-commerce and all other benefits related to ICTs. We believe ICTs are a faster way not only to spur our economic growth index but also to unify our nation and uplift the quality of life enjoyed by a typical Mozambican.” Mussingue said.
The Mozambican government held a demonstration stall at the austere United nations Conference Centre Exhibition hall to showcase the Maputo government's commitment to ICTs. The minister revealed how his government has benefited greatly from ICTs which have been used in the management of land records, land demarcation, boundaries administration and also citizen bionic registration.
“We are better managing our land assets, our ID and taxation systems are also better managed ever since we deployed ICTs to all these areas. However the most important development I can confess to of ICTs is the fact that today my grandmother can send me an SMS.” he adds mirthfully. [ENDS]