Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
Young people must be given opportunities, access to technology, and a supportive environment to develop innovative solutions that address local challenges and accelerate national development, Permanent Secretary for Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Beullah Chirume, has said.
Speaking in Harare at the recent launch of AfroFleet, a locally developed digital logistics platform, Dr Chirume said the country’s young people remain the greatest asset and should be empowered to become solution creators capable of transforming key sectors of the economy.
She said AfroFleet exemplified the practical implementation of the National ICT Policy, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, through the development of home-grown digital solutions to local challenges.
Dr Chirume noted that the logistics sector has for years been characterised by fragmentation, manual processes and inefficiencies, making digital innovation critical to improving service delivery and competitiveness.
She added that platforms such as AfroFleet enhance transparency, efficiency and convenience by connecting verified transporters and cargo owners in real time.
Highlighting the importance of youth-driven innovation, Dr Chirume urged Government, industry and investors to work together in supporting emerging innovators.
“Africa is yours to conquer,” she told the AfroFleet team, adding that the success of local innovations demonstrated that Zimbabwean talent could develop products capable of competing not only locally but across the African continent.
Dr Chirume also positioned AfroFleet within the broader context of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and automation.
Digital records, trusted networks and market intelligence generated through the platform would form the foundation of future intelligent freight systems, she said.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that achieving meaningful digital transformation requires collaboration among Government, innovators, businesses, investors and consumers.
Neither the Government nor the private sector could drive digital transformation alone, she explained, adding that partnerships would be critical in accelerating innovation and economic growth.
The company is led by Mr Chris Kateera, who is the founder and CEO, alongside Mr Takawisa Gwisai, a co-founder, who has a decade of direct logistics-industry experience, and Mr Tatenda Chivaka, the business development executive, who leads transporter onboarding and corridor activation.
Said Mr Kateera: “To every load carrier, our promise is to keep your trucks profitably on the road. Not idle. Not empty. Not waiting on a broker. Profitably moving.
“To every load owner, our promise is to transport your goods securely and reliably. Not ‘hopefully’. Not ‘we’ll see’. Securely. Reliably. Every load. Every time.”
Road Motor Transportation in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Commissioner . . . described AfroFleet as an important milestone in the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s logistics sector.
He said the platform complements ongoing investments in transport corridors and border infrastructure while improving efficiency within the freight and transport industry.
The commissioner also said AfroFleet has the full support of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and encouraged transport operators to adopt the platform as a tool for growth and competitiveness.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, Dr Judith Kateera, commended the initiative, describing AfroFleet as a project with the potential to increase trade, improve efficiency and contribute to economic growth.
She said the platform demonstrated how young people could harness technology to drive digital transformation and create solutions that support regional development.
AfroFleet is expected to connect transport operators and cargo owners through a digital marketplace, improving efficiency in freight movement while supporting Zimbabwe’s broader drive towards a digital economy.
