Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
MATABELELAND North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, has reiterated the need to expand the digital economy as a sustainable solution to curb youth migration from rural districts such as Lupane and Tsholotsho.
Represented by Matabeleland North’s Director for Economic Affairs and Investment, Mr Godfrey Mukwakwami, at the official opening of the 2026 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum for Africa underway in Victoria Falls, Minister Moyo said many young people from the province relocate to neighbouring countries in search of employment after completing their education.
“While our Government has introduced land allocation and vocational training programs, the expansion of the digital economy represents a sustainable solution to this trend
“By establishing rural digital hubs, e-commerce platforms, and digital vocational centres, the Province can create localised digital employment opportunities,” he said.
Minister Moyo said this approach aligns with the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Digital Villages Initiative, which integrates digital technology into rural agri-food value chains, transforming smallholder farming from a subsistence activity into a viable business.
The forum is being held under the theme: Universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future.
He described the theme as not merely a policy goal but a developmental necessity for provinces like Matabeleland North.
The ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa 2026 has brought together telecommunications regulators, government ministers, and industry captains from across the continent to Victoria Falls, which the Minister hailed as a premier destination for global dialogue where international policy translates into local progress.
