Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Beaulah Chirume, has called for Africa to shape its own artificial intelligence (AI) future, warning that continued dependence on foreign-developed technologies might marginalise African values and voices.
Speaking at the third Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence that is currently underway in Bangkok, Thailand, Dr Chirume urged African governments to invest in homegrown AI systems that reflect the continent’s diverse cultures, languages and socio-economic realities.
The high-level forum, convened by UNESCO, gathers policymakers, AI experts and government officials from around the world to explore the ethical dimensions of emerging AI technologies.
“African countries must move beyond being passive consumers of AI technologies developed by the West,” Dr Chirume said.
“We need to create algorithms and models that reflect our values, languages and ways of life.”
She cautioned that current global AI frameworks are often designed with little regard for Africa’s historical, cultural, or ethical context.
She said such models can inadvertently reinforce inequalities and undermine social cohesion in African societies.
Dr Chirume called on international development agencies, academia and the private sector to support African-led research and innovation.
“We must build local capacity, train our own data scientists, ethicists, and AI engineers so we can create tools that serve our communities, not marginalise them.”
Dr Chirume’s message comes amid growing concern worldwide over the ethical implications of AI, particularly in developing countries.
