Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
Victoria Falls Reporter
AFTER spending more than 20 years building a career in the United Kingdom’s technology sector, artificial intelligence expert Liliosa Padenga has returned home with a clear mission of helping Zimbabwe prepare for the fast-changing digital age.
At a time when AI is transforming industries across the world, Padenga wants Zimbabweans to understand and use the technology rather than be left behind by it.
Her return is also part of a growing trend of skilled Zimbabweans in the diaspora bringing their knowledge and experience back home to contribute to national development.
Having worked as a lecturer in the UK, including at the National College of Digital Skills where she trained apprentices from major international companies such as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers, also known as PwC, Padenga initially planned a quieter life after returning to Zimbabwe.
However, once she saw the gap in AI knowledge and skills, particularly within the education sector, she decided there was more work to be done.
“I came back in 2025. I wanted to come back and just relax, but when I saw this gap, I thought, oh, I can contribute,” she said.
That decision led to the establishment of ADNOB AI Tech Solutions, a company dedicated to helping Zimbabweans understand and use artificial intelligence through practical training programmes.
For Padenga, the move is a natural extension of the work she has been doing throughout her career.
“I’m a retired teacher, lecturer. I have worked in the past in Zimbabwe, at the University of Zimbabwe. I understand the context of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Her work comes at a significant moment for the country.
Earlier this year, President Mnangagwa launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030), which aims to position
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