marble nkomo
Mthabisi Tshuma in Harare
THE Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has started to work towards the launch of the recently approved National Artificial Intelligence Strategy where the event will be presided over by President Emmerson Mnanganwa.
The launch also comes amid reports that investment within the sector grew over 1%.
Addressing stakeholders during the Ministry’s engagement meeting held in Harare on Monday, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetara said through partnerships with various stakeholders, the year 2025 saw the sector achieving set goals.
“Let me reflect on what we have already achieved together in the past year alone. These achievements are not abstract policy statements; they are concrete outcomes delivered through partnership and commitment across the sector. During this period, we completed Zimbabwe’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. This Strategy is not about abstract concepts or futuristic language. It is about practical applications—how AI improves agriculture, strengthens
health systems, modernises education, enhances industrial productivity and
improves public service delivery.
“Preparations are underway for the official launch of this AI Strategy by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde—Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, in early March 2026. However, let me be very clear: the
accurate measure of success will not be the launch event, but implementation. We must ensure that this Strategy becomes a living
framework that drives innovation, investment and skills development—not a document that gathers dust on shelves or sits idle in digital archives,” said Minister Mavetera.
“Investment in the ICT sector grew by 14.5 per cent, reflecting increased investor confidence. In comparison, mobile penetration has now exceeded 103 per cent—clear indicators of an industry that is expanding in both reach and impact”.
Minister Mavetera said they have finalised the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which is
currently awaiting Cabinet consideration.
“These two frameworks alone significantly strengthen our digital governance and national resilience. In addition, I was honoured to be appointed as one of only seven Ministers
from across the African continent to serve on the Smart Africa Artificial Intelligence Council. This appointment is not a personal accolade; it is recognition of Zimbabwe’s growing leadership and credibility in the digital and AI space. It provides our country with a strategic platform to contribute to and influence continental AI policy direction, standards development, and best-practice sharing.
“Through this role, Zimbabwe is better positioned to align its national AI priorities with regional and continental initiatives, attract
partnerships and investment, and ensure that our ICT sector remains competitive and future-ready. We also led the process of gazetting the Posts and Telecommunications Amendment Bill, an important legislative milestone that modernises our regulatory environment and aligns it with current technological realities. We
now look forward to finalising this Bill in the upcoming session of the 10th Parliament,” said Minister Mavetera.
She said under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Ministry ensured the successful launch of flagship initiatives such as the Presidential Internet Scheme and the Telemedicine Project—both of which are already transforming access to connectivity and healthcare services, particularly for underserved communities.
“On the human capital front, we rolled out free national digital skills programmes, including the Digital Skills Ambassadors Programme, the 1.5 Million Coders initiative and the Cyberus Cybersecurity Programme.
“These initiatives are building a digitally competent population that can actively
participate in and benefit from the digital economy. We also rebranded and refocused Community Information Centres into modern Digital Centres, repositioning them as hubs for innovation, skills development and service access at the community level. These efforts are yielding measurable results,” said Minister Mavetera.
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Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter