Mr Mlambo reminded
participants that there was
need for vigilance when
advocating for access to
the Internet because the
Internet also had its own
dangers and vices. He gave
examples of how the fake
news phenomenon was
accelerated by Internet
based
communications.
He referred to the growing
surveillance culture of
various governments in
high income countries. The
Deputy Minister highlighted
the fact that such negative
effects of the Internet
made
it
compulsory
for governments to be
involved in the regulation
of the internet. A difficult
balance therefore, has
to be maintained by
governments which on
one hand, seek to balance
the commercial interests of
Internet service providers
with the Interests of
security, and an accessible,
affordable Internet. He
maintained that his Ministry
was concerned with the
high cost of data, and the
general lack of awareness
of consumers online rights
which sometimes gave
rise to predatory pricing
methods by some ICT
service providers.

its launch in 2015 and the
role it has played in the
regional and global Internet
Governance
Forum.
He indicated that the
Zimbabwean government
was invited by ICANN to
participate at GAC. He
reminded participants that
the government could
not support and operate
ZIGF without the support
of partners from both the
public and private sector.

The
Deputy
Minister
applauded
the
work
undertaken by ZIGF since

Digital illiteracy among
Zimbabwe’s marginalised
population
remains
a

Part
of
the
Deputy
Minister’s
address
examined the suitability
of current ICT technology
used
in
Zimbabwe,
especially in rural and other
economically marginalised
areas. He also spoke about
digital illiteracy which he
said makes it hard for
users from marginalised
demographics
to
use
smartphones and other
similar gadgets, much to
their disadvantage. This
inability to fully exploit
technological
gadgets
and Apps was examined
in more detail by Chido
Musodza
when
she
spoke
on
localisation
of
technology.
Her
presentation is featured
under the summary of the
IGC’s Session Two.

Select target paragraph3