Regional workshop raises the curtain in Kinshasa
When the Southern African Development Community opened its five-day workshop on ICT statistics in Kinshasa on 25 August, expectations ran high across the packed meeting hall. Delegates spoke of data gaps, policy delays and a shared determination to bring the region’s digital story into sharper focus.
The gathering, which concluded on 29 August, was no ordinary technical seminar. It formed part of a wider SADC ambition to equip all sixteen member states with a standard statistical blueprint, streamlining how each government captures, verifies and publishes figures that drive evidence-based ICT policy.
A shared quest for reliable ICT data
José Panda, minister for Posts, Telecommunications and New Information Technologies of the Democratic Republic of Congo, struck an upbeat note as he declared the sessions open. “Our combined effort can build a SADC that is truly connected and inclusive,” he told the assembled experts.
Panda urged participants to remain focused throughout the week, arguing that diligence in breakout rooms would translate into regional progress. His appeal resonated with delegates aware that uneven connectivity still hampers classrooms, clinics and entrepreneurs across southern Africa despite the continent’s vibrant mobile adoption.
Voices from the host nation
Christian Katende, president of Congo’s postal and telecom regulator ARPTC, framed the discussion within a continent-wide digital transformation. He noted that economies, schools, hospitals and even local governance structures now depend on timely numbers charting internet penetration, data costs and spectrum allocation trends.
Katende reminded the room that statistics are not an academic luxury. “Without reliable data we risk steering policy in the dark,” he said, pointing to contrasting figures that often circulate within the same capital city. A unified template, he insisted, would raise investor confidence.
Building a framework for inclusive connectivity
At the heart of the week’s agenda lay the proposed SADC ICT Observatory. The platform, still under design, aims to collate indicators ranging from broadband speed to digital literacy across the bloc. Stakeholders see it as a one-stop dashboard that could guide regional projects and funding.
Deputy executive secretary Angèle Makombo N’tumba underscored the urgency. She observed that several member states submit no ICT statistics for years, forcing analysts to rely on estimates. “Without solid numbers, effective development strategies are impossible,” she cautioned, drawing nods from data managers in the audience.
A regional observatory takes shape
Sessions mixed technical drills on metadata and sampling with lively debates on policy relevance. One working group compared household survey tools, testing whether questions about smartphone ownership capture the region’s shift toward app-based services. Another weighed the merits of quarterly versus annual reporting for cost-sensitive administrations.
Beyond methodology, delegates explored how data might spur inclusion. Rural representatives from Zambia and Lesotho described radio programmes where farmers share market prices via text message, stressing that coverage maps must highlight valleys still offline. In response, engineers from Mauritius showcased low-orbit satellite pilots bridging similar gaps.
Capacity building at the centre
Observers found the atmosphere pragmatic. While political speeches stayed brief, informal hallway exchanges often stretched late into the evening, with statisticians swapping code snippets and regional regulators comparing spectrum fees. By Friday, many spoke of an emerging community that looks beyond borders to troubleshoot shared obstacles.
The presence of Sao Tomé, the Union of Comoros and Seychelles reminded larger economies that island states face unique hurdles. Their delegates pressed for under-sea cable protection clauses within the statistical framework, arguing that route disruptions can skew bandwidth indicators and distort comparative analyses.
Participation across sixteen member states
Funding remained a sensitive topic. Several participants acknowledged fiscal constraints yet reiterated that accurate statistics cost far less than misdirected infrastructure. Conversations touched on leveraging public-private partnerships, with South African firms hinting at open-data initiatives that could lower collection expenses for smaller national bureaus.
Throughout the week, facilitators emphasised that the exercise was not about ranking countries but about learning from one another. Comparative dashboards, they said, should illuminate best practice, not name-and-shame. That collaborative spirit, participants agreed, will be essential as the region pushes toward universal broadband.
Outside the conference centre, Kinshasa’s bustling streets offered a vivid reminder of fast-growing demand. Smartphone vendors jostled for attention while university students queued at cybercafés for coursework uploads. For several first-time visitors, the city’s energy underscored why up-to-date indicators matter to ordinary users, not only policymakers.
Looking ahead for a connected SADC
As closing remarks echoed across the hall, organisers released a draft communiqué outlining next steps: finalising a harmonised indicator list, testing data-quality software and convening an online follow-up in six months. The document also invites each state to appoint a focal point for continuous feedback.
Many experts left Kinshasa convinced that the workshop marks only the opening chapter of a longer journey. If promises translate into practice, the SADC could soon possess a shared statistical compass guiding investments that close the digital divide and unlock fresh opportunities for millions.
