Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma in Nyanga
GOVERNMENT is developing Information Communication Technology (ICT)-related policies in the nation’s journey towards becoming a fully digital, equitable, resilient economy, Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti has said.
He made the remarks at the Cyber Fraud & AI Summit that is being held at a local hotel in Nyanga. The four-day conference is being held under the theme “Bridging the Digital Gap”.
Deputy Minister Phuti said a number of policies will be introduced in the nation’s path to a digitally empowered, inclusive and robust economy.
“I am proud to report that Zimbabwe has already made significant strides which include the National AI Policy Framework which has been completed. The Cyber & Data Protection Act is in force, enhancing legislative safeguards for data and privacy.
“Our Government is developing additional policies and legislative instruments such as the E-Commerce & E-Transactions Bill, the ICT Start-Up Policy, the Child Online Safety Policy, the Postal & Courier Services Policy, and strategies for e-waste management. We have launched collaborative initiatives with academia, the private sector, and international partners to strengthen cybersecurity, promote research, and support innovation. These milestones show commitment, but they are the foundation — there remains much work to do,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
Deputy Minister Phuti said as the nation pushes forward with digital transformation, they will ensure that all Zimbabweans — urban and rural, young and old, women and men — are included, empowered and protected.
“Artificial Intelligence offers us extraordinary opportunities. Through AI we can modernise public services, improve healthcare diagnostics, transform agricultural productivity, enhance education delivery, and create new jobs. These are not just dreams — they are within reach.
“However, with this promise comes serious risk. Cyber fraud and cybercrime threaten to undermine trust, drain resources, and widen inequality. If we fail to secure our digital systems, the very same advances that could lift many out of poverty may instead leave the vulnerable even more exposed,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
