Dear Editor,I write to compliment the government on the various development policies it has strategised and employed to enhance the country and its citizen’s wellbeing. Notably among these is the policy to create a knowledge-based economy with all the technical facilitations to implement it. The knowledge-based economy runs on Information and Communication Technology, ICT, which is its backbone. Our leadership has tried its utmost best to spread the use of this technology to all sectors of the economy. The manual filing system and handwritten documentation is now a thing of the past century as far as Rwandan offices are concerned and efforts have been made to equip all work places with computers, printers and other electronic gadgets for the quick processing and storage of information. The government has gone a step further to enhance ownership of this vital equipment by implementing a zero-tax policy on imports hence reducing prices and enhancing import of laptops and other IT stuff. The one laptop per child program for primary school pupils is one of the commendable strategies taken to ensure that the ICT policy is enforced from elementary level and this assures me that Rwanda will attain the standards of the developed world where ICT knowledge is basic. I could go on and on but I appreciate the fact that these efforts are also recognized at International level as our country is now being referred to as the regional ‘ICT hub’ yet it is very tiny and has just emerged from genocide. My recommendation to the ICT policy makers is that we should leave no room for setbacks. We are currently running some of the best software on the market notably Operating Systems and application Software. Therefore, we should beware of software piracy and duplication so that we do not fall victims. Since we really do not, have the capacity to produce our own, it is still very expensive to purchase licensed software hence some individuals or organizations may fall prey to software piracy by using the cheaper option. This is a serious crime and if caught, the culprit may be imprisoned and incur heavy financial losses. Efforts should be made to purchase licensed software, however expensive, as it is the safer option and gives better results. KIGALI
