Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE yesterday took a giant leap towards becoming an artificial intelligence-driven economy after Econet Wireless Zimbabwe launched Econet AI, with Government describing the development as a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation and industrial modernisation agenda.
The launch comes barely a month after President Mnangagwa unveiled the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030) at the new Parliament Building in Mount Hampden, setting the tone for the country’s drive towards a knowledge-based, upper-middle-income economy.
Speaking at the launch in Harare yesterday, ICT, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the introduction of Econet AI signalled the country’s transition from being a consumer of technology to a producer of innovative digital solutions.
“This event signals Zimbabwe’s firm transition from aspiration to action in the digital age,” she said.
“Zimbabwe has shifted from being a passive consumer of technology to becoming a creator and innovator.
“The launch of Econet AI exemplifies this change, occurring at the vital intersection of supportive Government policy and remarkable private-sector innovation.”
Minister Mavetera said the development dovetails with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to build a vibrant digital economy and accelerate economic growth through innovation, industrialisation and value addition.
She said artificial intelligence was no longer a concept of the future, but a present-day technology already transforming economies across the globe.
“AI is no longer a future technology concept — it is here, already beginning to define and influence how we work, live and do business,” said Minister Mavetera.
“I believe nations that are investing in AI today will shape the global economy tomorrow. Zimbabwe has made the strategic choice to lead this revolution and actively compete for the future.”
She added that the national AI strategy is anchored on six key pillars: robust digital infrastructure, talent development, sector-wide adoption, governance and ethics, research and innovation, and strategic international collaboration.
Minister Mavetera commended Econet for aligning its latest innovation with Government policy and investing in infrastructure that will enhance national competitiveness.
“Your investment in advanced AI infrastructure has positioned Zimbabwe’s economy — including private and public enterprises and small to medium enterprises — to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and compete globally,” she said.
Cassava Technologies president and chief executive officer Mr Hardy Pemhiwa said the launch represents a structural shift in the country’s economic and technological development.
“AI is not a faster version of what we have seen before. It is a structural substitute for an entire category of human effort,” he said.
“The question is not whether it is coming. It has already arrived. The question is whether we make a structural response.”
Mr Pemhiwa said Cassava had invested in Africa’s first AI compute centre, positioning Zimbabwe and the region to access world-class GPU computing power and enterprise AI capabilities locally.
“This means organisations in Zimbabwe can now train AI models, run large-scale data analytics and deploy AI applications locally, without sending their data abroad,” he said.
Econet deputy chief executive officer Mr Roy Chimanikire said the platform would unlock innovation across key sectors of the economy, including finance, mining, agriculture, health and telecommunications. He said the initiative is being strengthened through partnerships with global technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Nvidia.
“This is all about building an ecosystem that allows us to move from being consumers of technology to producers and innovators,” said Mr Chimanikire.
Econet AI chief executive officer Mr Navdeep Kupar said the platform has been designed to democratise access to artificial intelligence and support local innovation.
“Our objective is that any person with an idea should be able to develop an AI service or application,” he said.
“The person does not have to know coding and does not even have to know English.”
He said the platform will support local languages and empower students, entrepreneurs and innovators to build solutions tailored to Zimbabwe’s needs.
The launch is expected to boost Government’s smart cities agenda and support digital transformation across public service delivery, agriculture, education and healthcare.
