‘Tap into digital space for sustainable solutions’ Ellen Gwaradzimba

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
LOCAL authorities have been urged to tap into the digital space to come up with sustainable solutions to challenges that are derailing the development of cities. Speaking at the inaugural Manicaland Smart Cities Summit and expo held in Mutare last week, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the answer to modern day challenges lies in modern technological solutions.

“Challenges of the 21st Century require 21st Century solutions. I therefore, challenging all development partners to tap into the digital space so that we can change the way we plan for and overcome existing challenges.

“There is no doubt in my mind that our hope as a nation rests on exploitation of technological capabilities and the unleashing of our collective innovation. May I also challenge our city fathers to shift their mind-set towards this new way of thinking and critically consider better infrastructure that are 21st century compliant,” she said.

She said Government would not come up with answers to all challenges but had instead, given provinces the mandate to do that through devolution.

“As devolution dawns before us, we want to promote new forms of governance and public participation by making intelligent decisions at a strategic level so as to become smart.

“The devolution agenda has given all Provinces power to think outside the box and without the box, and start utilising their resources and natural endowments to transform lives in their cities.

“I challenge all policy makers to craft smart policies which stand as a stimulus to this development agenda. We need to unleash our great potential to solve the many problems that we face today in our cities,” she added.

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