Msala Village goes digital as Government commissions NetOne 4G base station

THE Government has commissioned a new NetOne 4G base station in Msala Village, Gokwe, which will also benefit previously marginalised communities in the neighbouring Binga District, Matabeleland North Province.

The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, officially commissioned the Msala NetOne 4G Base Station and launched the Midlands Digitalise Zimbabwe Roving ICT Expo.

Local schools received computers to support digital learning, while new solar-powered boreholes, drip irrigation systems, and nutritional gardens were installed to address water scarcity and enhance food security.

Addressing villagers and Government officials during the event on Friday, Minister Mavetera emphasised that every Zimbabwean, regardless of location, must be part of the digital economy.

“As President Mnangagwa has said, no one and no place must be left behind in our journey towards Vision 2030. Today, here in Msala, we are giving real meaning to that vision. Our desire is for Zimbabweans to know, support, and collaborate with their Government in the ICT sector. This starts by providing the public with information on the work being done by the Government and by offering training on how to participate in the digital economy,” she said.

Minister Mavetera highlighted that collaboration between the Government and the public is essential to the country’s development trajectory.

“Before the national Independence Day celebrations, the Nembudziya area also benefited from ICT connectivity through the Presidential Internet Scheme, showcasing telemedicine that connected clinics in Nembudziya District Hospital, Gweru Provincial Hospital, and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo,” she said.

The minister noted that a state-of-the-art internet laboratory was commissioned at Nyamuroro High School, mainly funded by NetOne, equipping learners with tools to thrive in a global digital economy.

“This shows clearly that the President is not just talking about ICT, but walking the talk. Today, we are here to launch the NetOne base station. Our goal is that here in Msala, people can get a signal without having to climb mountains and tall trees in search of one,” she said.

Minister Mavetera stated that the base station will connect students to e-learning, farmers to markets, health workers to telemedicine, and entrepreneurs to customers.

“We have come to launch these signals, and we are overwhelmed by the Digitalise Zimbabwe Roving Expo. The expo aims to publicise and explain the work that the Government is doing to improve connectivity and postal services in our country. People need to hear and understand the work that their Government is doing under the leadership of President Mnangagwa,” she said.

Minister Mavetera acknowledged that while important national policies and programmes are being rolled out — including the National ICT Policy, the National Broadband Plan, the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Masterplan, and the Cyber and Data Protection Act — many citizens do not fully understand them.

She added that the Digitalise Zimbabwe Expo is a way of bringing technology and information directly to the people.
“Through these roving expos, we are bridging the digital divide by taking demonstrations, exhibitions, and training to both rural and urban areas. We are running interactive sessions where communities can engage with technologies like smartphones, tablets, drones, solar-powered solutions, and digital payment systems.

“We are hosting knowledge-sharing workshops on topics such as digital literacy, online safety, and entrepreneurship in the digital age. We are providing skills development training so that citizens can learn how to use devices, access online services, and create content,” said the minister.

Minister Mavetera said that instead of asking people to travel to Harare to learn about ICT, the Government is bringing ICT to the doorstep of every Zimbabwean.

“This expo is part of a bigger picture of training 1,5 million coders, making Zimbabwe a hub of African tech talent; deploying the Digitruck to the remotest communities; expanding community WiFi zones to make internet access universal; and creating digital ambassadors in every province to champion ICT adoption,” she said.

Following ICT investment by the Government, Minister Mavetera said cotton farmers in Msala can now check commodity prices before selling. She said a student at Nyamuroro High can now access global research material.

“A clinic nurse can consult with a doctor hundreds of kilometres away. A youth with coding skills can now develop an app and sell it worldwide. This is the Zimbabwe we are building — an inclusive, connected, and future-ready nation,” she said.

NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, described the launch as a symbol of inclusive development and empowerment.

“This base station is more than a tower. To me, it is like the tall mutondo tree that stands in the middle of the village. From it, everyone finds shade. From it, everyone finds direction,” he said.

Engineer Mushanawani said the project aligns with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the preparatory stages of NDS2, as outlined by President Mnangagwa, to ensure that no place and no one is left behind.

“We do not only connect your phones — we connect your lives. We connect your child to knowledge. We connect your family to clean water. We connect your community to opportunity. Beyond connectivity, NetOne is transforming the Msala community with tangible socio-economic projects,” he said.
Engineer Mushanawani added that schools in Msala will be connected to the internet and equipped with modern computers.