Government stakes in telecommunications operators prevent Africa from developing knowledge economies, says Etienne Sinatambou, Mauritius` minister of information, technology and telecoms.
"As policy-makers, there is much that we in Africa need to do. Often the public sector does one thing, the private sector another and Africa lies behind. this must change," he explains.
One of the ways Africa is holding itself back is its take on the telecoms sector, Sinatambou contends.
"Africa has the highest number of monopolies. This doesn`t help the people. I believe we are wrong in not liberalising the sector. But in many of our countries, the government has a stake in the operators. We must consider that what governments make in dividends from these shareholdings we - as a continent - lose in wide-ranging development."
Competing forces
Sinatambou also calls for countries to work together, rather than against their neighbours.
"Why do we believe that we need to compete with each other? We would do better to share our information, collaborate and learn from each other`s experiences. We`re shooting ourselves in the foot."
He points to the International Telecommunication Union 2007 World Information Society Report, which tracks progress in digital opportunity for 181 economies. Sinatambou notes that, according to the report, Mauritius led the continent at 58. The island was followed by Seychelles at 62, Morocco at 68, Algeria at 83 and then SA at 86.
"How can it be that SA comes fifth on the continent and 86th in the world? There`s something wrong going on there. I`ve suggested to SA`s communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri that we get together to discuss how Mauritius got it right. We`re happy to share," he says.
Not just industry
Sinatambou urges the continent to be cognisant of the fact that ICT does not benefit the ICT industry alone.
"ICT enables competition. The reason why Africa lags behind Asia`s economic growth is because access to - and spread of - ICT is just not good enough. We`ve got to step up our efforts. We need to speed up projects like the Nepad schools, and we`ve got to create policies that will allow our countries and continent to catch up with the rest of the world."
He concludes: "Only when we have achieved a knowledge economy, supported by our investment in ICT, will this be an African century."
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