Harare — THE Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe and Africom Continental are seeking partners to complete the broadband link between Harare and Mutare as efforts towards firmly establishing the country as the region's information technology hub intensify.

Presently, trenches to set up the link are stretching from Beira to Macheke and the funding required is for the stretch from Macheke to Harare.

The broadband link will operate through a series of underground cables that will run from Harare to the port of Beira where the cable links with an international undersea cable that then relays the messages or information to the intended destination within or outside Zimbabwe.

The link will ensure that information travels much faster and at cheaper rates compared to the existing satellite system.

The Government's prospectus made available to potential investors last week revealed that promoters were seeking to raise additional funding to complete the project which stakeholders in the ICT industry view as having immense commercial value.

Africom, with a 50 percent stake, IDBZ with 30 percent and National Social Security Authority with 20 percent are the three companies currently involved in the project. The project has now passed the half way mark from Mutare with trenching now approaching Macheke.

It is, however, behind schedule due to cost overruns associated with the previous hyper inflationary environment.

It is expected that the completion of the project would see a drastic reduction of ICT costs in the country.

Currently the costs are very high as Internet service providers are using satellite for connection which is sometimes slow.

Government considers information communication technologies as the lifeblood of a new society hence the setting up of the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology whose key activities include the development and management of a nationwide infrastructure that is comprehensive, expansive and reliable.

The mobilisation of resources and establishment of smart partnerships for ICT's development programmes and promoting literacy, awareness and advocacy is also part of the ministry's mandate.