Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
INFORMATION Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has applauded telecommunications giant NetOne for leveraging technology and connectivity to address challenges facing communities and support the country’s development agenda.
Speaking during the NetOne at 30 Medical Outreach and Telemedicine Launch in Chikomba West, Minister Mavetera said the telecommunications operator had demonstrated that connectivity could go beyond communication to become an important tool for improving access to essential services and driving inclusive development.
“Connectivity can go beyond communication to improve access to essential services, empower communities and drive inclusive development.
“Through technology, we can bridge geographical barriers and ensure that more Zimbabweans benefit from critical services such as healthcare,” she said.
Her remarks come as NetOne commemorates 30 years of connecting Zimbabwe, with the company using the milestone to reaffirm its commitment to harnessing technology to improve the lives of communities.
The Chikomba West initiative, implemented by NetOne in partnership with ZimSmart Villages, seeks to use telemedicine to bridge geographical barriers and bring healthcare services closer to communities that may face challenges accessing specialised medical care.
The programme falls under NetOne’s Health and Care and Connecting Communities pillars, highlighting the growing role of telecommunications infrastructure in supporting social and economic development.
Minister Mavetera commended NetOne for demonstrating how its core business could be harnessed to respond to real-life challenges affecting Zimbabweans.
The initiative also highlights the potential of public-private partnerships in complementing Government efforts to expand access to essential services, particularly in underserved communities.
Delivering remarks on behalf of NetOne, the company’s public relations manager, Mr Ernest Magadzire, said the company’s 30th anniversary was not simply an occasion to celebrate its achievements, but an opportunity to reaffirm its responsibility to use connectivity to create tangible social and economic benefits.
“Thirty years of connecting Zimbabwe is not simply a milestone to celebrate; it is a responsibility to build on.
“At NetOne, we believe the true value of connectivity is measured by what it makes possible, a child accessing knowledge, a community accessing healthcare, an entrepreneur reaching a market and a citizen accessing essential services,” he said.
Mr Magadzire said NetOne was entering its next chapter with a focus on using technology and innovation to create meaningful impact in communities.
“We are moving from simply connecting people to connecting people to possibilities.
“Through technologies such as telemedicine, we can use the network we have built over three decades to bring essential services closer to communities and help address challenges that matter most to Zimbabweans,” he said.
He said the company viewed technology as a means of solving practical challenges rather than an end in itself.
“Technology is our core business, but its greatest value is realised when we use it to create solutions that matter.
“At NetOne, we believe connectivity should not simply connect devices and people; it must connect communities to opportunities, essential services and solutions that improve lives,” said Mr Magadzire.
The Chikomba West programme brings together telecommunications, healthcare professionals, development partners and communities, demonstrating how different sectors can collaborate to address challenges that cannot be tackled by one institution alone.
Through telemedicine, patients in communities that are geographically distant from specialised healthcare facilities can potentially access medical expertise without having to travel long distances.
The initiative is therefore in line with the broader push towards digital transformation, where technology is increasingly being deployed to improve the efficiency and reach of public and private services.
Mr Magadzire said NetOne’s three-decade journey had created infrastructure that could now be leveraged to support development in several sectors.
“For 30 years, we have built and expanded the infrastructure that keeps Zimbabwe connected.
“As we look ahead, our responsibility is to maximise that connectivity, using technology to support healthcare, education, agriculture, financial inclusion and other areas critical to national development,” he said.
The partnership with ZimSmart Villages also demonstrates the potential of private-sector investment to complement Government programmes in advancing access to services.
The initiative is aligned with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which places technology, innovation and inclusive development at the centre of Zimbabwe’s transformation agenda.
NetOne also recognised the role of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is a dedicated patron of health, in advocating for improved health and wellbeing of communities across the country.
For NetOne, the Chikomba West outreach represents an evolution from its traditional role as a telecommunications provider towards becoming a broader enabler of digital transformation.
The company has positioned the next phase of its development around “meaningful connectivity”, with technology being used to link communities not only to one another but also to healthcare, education, economic opportunities and other essential services.
