Online Reporter
Dr Evans Sagomba
Everything AI
IN today’s world, the pace of change is overwhelming.
Everywhere we look, new systems are being introduced to make life faster, easier, and more convenient.
Yet in this rush, something vital is at risk of being lost: the human ingenuity, creativity and intelligence. This is not a distant concern. It is a reality that touches Zimbabwe directly, from the way our children are taught, to how our farmers plan their crops, to how our communities preserve wisdom and culture. The question before us is whether we will allow human ingenuity to be overshadowed by the lure of speed and automation, or whether we will guard it as the foundation of our future.
Human intelligence is not a tool that can be switched on and off. It is a living force that has taken millions of years to evolve. It depends on the delicate balance of our bodies, our emotions, and our social experiences. It is fragile, but it is also profound.
When a grandmother in Gokwe teaches her grandchildren proverbs by the fireside, she is passing down wisdom that cannot be stored in a system or replicated by a device. That wisdom is lived, felt, and carried in memory. It is irreplaceable, and once lost, it cannot be recovered. This fragility is what makes human intelligence precious, and it is why we must protect it.
The temptation of speed, however, is strong. Systems that calculate faster, produce quicker, and deliver results instantly are being idolised.
In Zimbabwe, we see this in banking applications that replace the teller, in online platforms that replace the teacher, and in predictive tools that replace the farmer’s intuition. Convenience is attractive, but it comes at a cost.
When speed is prioritised over depth, we risk losing the richness of human creativity.
A poem written by a child in Mutare may take longer to craft than a digital output, but it carries the heartbeat of lived experience. That heartbeat cannot be imitated.
In Zimbabwe we are a people known for resilience, for finding ways to survive and thrive even in difficult circumstances. But resilience must not mean surrendering our human flame to systems that make us invisible. Consider education. If our schools rely too heavily on automated teaching aids, children may grow up without the patience to think deeply, to wrestle with ideas, to learn from mistakes. The danger is not that they will fail to pass exams, but that they will fail to develop the human creativity that makes Zimbabwean culture vibrant. These tools can help, but they must never replace our lived knowledge, passed down through generations.
History offers lessons. Thirty years ago, cyberspace was celebrated as a new frontier of freedom. The dream was of liberation, of a world without boundaries. But today, that dream has turned into a challenge. The very systems that promised freedom now threaten to swallow human creativity. Zimbabwe knows this story well. We have seen how external systems economic, political, technological, can dominate and reshape our lives. The lesson is clear: if we do not actively protect our human creativity, it will be consumed by forces that do not care about our values, our traditions, or our humanity.
Protecting the human space requires deliberate action. Our schools, families, churches, and communities must remain places where creativity is nurtured. Systems can assist, but they must never dominate. Our institutions must be trusted and strengthened. Laws, frameworks, and boundaries are not obstacles; they are shields. Just as the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Act seeks to protect our privacy, we need cultural and educational frameworks that protect our human intelligence from being sidelined. Above all, we must value slowness. Human life is slow, grounded in physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences. There is no need to race mindlessly. Progress requires patience, collaboration, and human touch. We already see this in our Zimbabwean communities.
Teachers in rural schools who, despite limited resources, use storytelling and song to teach children values and history.
Nurses who combine medical training with empathy, comforting patients in ways no system can replicate.
Farmers who blend traditional knowledge with modern tools, ensuring that crops are, not only productive, but also culturally significant.
Musicians and writers who capture the Zimbabwean spirit in ways that no automated system could ever imitate. These examples remind us that human ingenuity is not outdated, it is the foundation of our survival.
The temptation to idolise speed and convenience is strong, but we must ask ourselves what kind of Zimbabwe we want. Do we want a society where creativity is sidelined, or one where it is celebrated? The answer lies in our choices. If we choose to nurture human intelligence, to protect it, and to value it, we will build a Zimbabwe that thrives not only economically but spiritually and culturally. If we surrender to speed and convenience, we risk becoming a society that forgets its own wisdom, its own stories, its own humanity.
We are the last generation to have known human intelligence in its pure form, untouched by overwhelming technological acceleration. That must not die. Zimbabwe must guard it, nurture it, and ensure it continues to shine.
Our children deserve to inherit, not only systems and devices, but also the wisdom, creativity, and resilience that make us human. The future will bring new tools, new systems, and new challenges. But if we hold fast to our values, our traditions, and our ingenuity, we will control the forces that threaten to consume us.
Flesh must reign over steel, humanity over machinery. The flame of human intelligence must never be extinguished.
About the Author: Dr Evans Sagomba is a Doctor of Philosophy and Chartered Marketer (CMktr, FCIM) with an MPhil and PhD in Philosophy. He specialises in AI, Ethics, and Policy Research, and is an AI Governance and Policy Consultant. Master’s and PhD supervisor. AI Ethics and Governance Lecturer. [email protected], Social media handles; LinkedIn; @Dr. Evans Sagomba (MSc Marketing) (FCIM)(MPhil) (PhD), X: @esagomba
