Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata, Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe’s digital ambitions have received a major continental boost following the appointment of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera to the newly established Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council, a high-level body created under the Smart Africa initiative.
The council was formally constituted on January 5, 2026, in Conakry, Guinea, in what Smart Africa described as a landmark step in Africa’s digital transformation and leadership in artificial intelligence governance and innovation.
Chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also chair of the Smart Africa Board, the initiative brings together 42 African leaders, the African union Commissioner for Energy and Infrastructure, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication union (ITU), senior private sector representatives and development partners.
Minister Mavetera’s appointment comes on the back of Cabinet’s approval of Zimbabwe’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in November 2025, placing the country among a select group of African nations with a clear, Government-backed framework guiding the ethical development, deployment and governance of AI. Her inclusion as one of seven ICT Ministers on the 15-member Council reflects Zimbabwe’s growing influence in continental digital policy circles and signals confidence in the country’s technology-driven development agenda.
The Africa AI Council is mandated to provide strategic and actionable recommendations across six thematic pillars, which are Infrastructure, Data, Market, Talent, Investment and Governance, to ensure AI is responsibly deployed and delivers tangible benefits to African economies and societies.
“Our board mandated us to ensure that Africa leads, not follows, in the global AI transformation,” said Smart Africa director-general and chief executive officer Mr Lacina Koné.
“With the establishment of the Africa AI Council, we take a decisive step toward shaping an AI-driven future rooted in African values, responsive to African challenges and designed to unlock African potential.”
Zimbabwe’s rising profile in digital innovation has been further reinforced by its leadership in agricultural technology under the Smart Africa framework.
Under President Mnangagwa, the country has emerged as a pace-setter in applying digital solutions to agriculture, food security and climate resilience.
The President previously launched the Smart Africa Continental Agritech Blueprint, now regarded as a flagship continental initiative positioning agriculture as a priority sector for AI-driven transformation.
