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MINEDAF VII and Other Initiatives
SADC - Southern
African Development Community
Consultative Conference with International Cooperating Partners
(Lusaka, Zambia, 5-12 February 1999)
Conference theme:
"SADC in the Next Millennium: The Challenges and Opportunities of
Information Technology"
The objective of the SADC Consultative Conference
was to share information and promote exchange on the important
and critical role being played by information and communication
technologies (ICTs) in different spheres of society and the way they
are shaping economic and business strategies at the global, regional,
national and micro-enterprise levels. The Executive Secretary of the MINEDAF Intergovernmental Committee attended
the conference.
SADC's overall regional
development strategy continues to emphasize efforts to improve Southern
Africa's competitiveness in the world market and to promote its image as
an attractive destination for investment. The Governments of the region
are keenly aware of the impact of information and communications
technology on the globalization of the world economy. They are concerned
that the ramifications, challenges and opportunities posed by these
technologies are fully analyzed and better understood by their countries.
The concerns of the
conference were well covered in a synoptic document (48 pp. with Annexes)
with the same title as the theme of the conference. The document covered
the following areas: situational analysis of information technology in the
SADC countries; opportunities and challenges; SADC goals in information
technology; policy issues; and some proposals for the way forward. It
contains some useful annexes: on development of the "information society"
in Southern Africa; on telecommunications infrastructure in the region; on
IT in the Africa-wide context; and on IT profiles of SADC Members.
The document was prepared with support from USAID. The conference document was a
useful synthesis of the main issues, especially for busy policymakers.
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