Telecommunication Technologies in Africa:
A Webguide by Kim Huhn
If properly harnessed, information and communication technology (ICT) can be
a valuable tool for the advancement of underdeveloped countries. ICT offers
the free flow of information, distance education, health services and much more.
Having recognized this, international programs such as those of the United Nations,
have sought to implement such technology in Africa. However, the political instability
and acute poverty in Africa have a huge impact on successful implementation
of telecommunications. In light of recent efforts and program policies, financial
support is vital and more importantly, a national policy that promotes the free
flow of information and that is willing to open up its economy in the telecommunications
sector.
A great deal of the financial support that comes through Africa in support of
ICT development is from the United States. The countries willing to open up
their economies to the United States are those that receive aid and support
from this superpower. The US Aid Leland Initiative is an African Global Information
Infrastructure project. Its website (http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/leland/
<http://www.usaid.gov/regions/afr/leland/> ) focuses on the private sector of the economy. A large portion of this website is reserved for business opportunities of foreign investors, for example Internet service providers. This website highlights the increasingly vital role that privatization plays in the implementation of information technologies so that the necessary support is made available.
http://www.un.org/depts/eca/tca/ <http://www.un.org/depts/eca/tca/> The
Information Technology Centre for Africa (ITCA) website exemplifies the emphasis
that international institutions such as the United Nations are placing on the
education of African policy makers and planners, in regards to the value of
ICT for development. In order to exploit the benefits of ICT for economic advancement,
the exhibition and learning centre directs itself at the stakeholders in African
development (governments, civil society, the private sector, academics, and
intergovernmental organizations) throughout Africa. The ITCA looks to both the
business community and the academia of Africa to increase awareness of the benefits
of ICT.
www.uneca,org <http://www.uneca,org/> is the United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa website. It illustrates Africa's current difficulties in attaining
ICT, including inadequate funding, weak regulatory and legislative frameworks,
and lack of ICT policies. This website demonstrates a need for the African government
to work in partnership with all stakeholders, so that policy and regulatory
frameworks, infrastructure development, capacity, and regional co-operation
are capable of fully exploiting the benefits of ICT. African governments in
collaboration with other investors can play a key role in advancing an ICT agenda;
institutional reforms can allow for greater private sector participation in
ICT.
A fundamental tenet of successful implementation of ICT in Africa is not only
economic policy, and more importantly, political policy in regards to freedom
of expression. Given the political instability of many countries in Africa,
this is a freedom that is often taken away by government leaders in times of
war and regime instability.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (http://www.cpj.org <http://www.cpj.org/>
) is a website that is dedicated to the freedom of press and demonstrates the
many countries in Africa where the right to freedom of expression is taken by
the state. In Zimbabwe, the ruling ZANU-PF party of sought to assert control
of the airwaves and Internet communications technologies through informal legislation
(http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/africa00/africa.html <http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/africa00/africa.html>
.)
Regulation of Net content can often translate into state manipulation of information,
which obstructs a well-informed country and can assist an authoritarian regime
to stay in power. Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, sought control of the Internet
in response to his growing unpopularity and to opposition of the ruling ZANU-PF
party. (http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/africa00/Zimbabwe.html_
<http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/africa00/Zimbabwe.html_> ) A Bill on Posts and Telecommunications established a new regulatory board with powers over Internet services. The bill grants the government power to monitor communications when necessary, which is up to the president's discretion and his decisions, may not be appealed.
The right to the free flow of information is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
and by the African Charter of Human and People's Rights. President Mudabe‚s
impingement on that right is not in line with democratic policy. The Zimbabwe
homepage http://www.zanupfpub.co.zw/history.html
<http://www.zanupfpub.co.zw/history.html> however, offers various links
to government information whereby Mudabe describes his party ZANU-PF as „an
open, democratic party with transparent structures.‰
In light of these websites, it is apparent that the political and economic conditions in Africa are major obstructions to successful execution of information technologies. Government policy must promote freedom of expression in order for these technologies to succeed. The African country must open up to the global economy in order to attract foreign investors and receive the financial support for ICT. Financial aid for ICT in Africa comes at a price: the tenets of the liberal global economy must be in place, and therefore, a willingness to privatize an extent of the telecommunications sector.