Online Reporter
We publish here the 31st post-Cabinet media briefing presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, in Harare yesterday.
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Cabinet considered and approved the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026 to 2030) as a component of the Information Communication Technology Architecture and the National Information Communication Technology Policy.
The development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is in direct response to the need to properly harness the economic benefits and disruptive effects of AI in the era of emerging technologies.
The Strategy is also a result of the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report, which Cabinet approved in June 2025.
The RAM report highlighted the need for a coordinated national approach to AI. Furthermore, the National AI Strategy is firmly aligned with existing national policies, the Heritage-Based Education 5.0, and Ubuntu citizen-centric philosophies, Smart Zimbabwe Master Plan, and builds upon the foundation of the Cyber and Data Protection Act and the Postal and Telecommunications Act to ensure that the country’s approach to AI is both agile and secure.
The Strategy is a declaration of intent to actively shape the country’s technological future based on three core imperatives, namely: economic sovereignty and competitiveness to ensure that the country has a resource-based economy and a knowledge-based one; cultural and social determination to instil Zimbabwean values and the philosophy of Unhu/Ubuntu; and inclusive and resilient development where Artificial Intelligence is used to solve challenges and bridge the urban-rural divide by leaving no one and no place behind.
The Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy will be anchored by six pillars, namely: Artificial Intelligence Talent and Capacity Development; National Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure and Computational Sovereignty; Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Service Transformation; Governance, Ethics and Regulatory Framework; Research, Development and Innovation; and Strategic International Collaboration and Diplomacy.
In order to accelerate the implementation of the strategy, five flagship initiatives have been proposed, as follows: the Zimbabwe Artificial Grand Challenge, which is a national competition to spur innovation and offer solutions to pressing national challenges using Artificial Intelligence; the National Artificial Intelligence and Data Platform (Project “Pangolin/Haka/Inkaka”), a centralised platform to provide access to data and computational resources for researchers and innovators; the “Nzwisiso” National Literacy Campaign to educate citizens about the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence; the National Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Sandbox (the “Innovation/Crucible/Umthombo Wolwazi”), a safe space for start-ups and researchers to test new Artificial Intelligence applications; and the National Artificial Intelligence Innovation Fund (“Mugove/Isabelo/Mqhele” Fund), dedicated to providing capital for Artificial Intelligence-focused start-ups and research projects.
In addition, the National Digital Regulatory Committee under the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy Implementation Office within the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services will be established to ensure effective implementation of the Strategy.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Regarding the Development of the Inga 3 Transmission Lines Project
Cabinet considered and approved the Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation regarding the Development of the Inga 3 Transmission Lines Project.
The project is for the development and implementation of the Inga 3 Transmission Lines Project, and the promotion of the reinforcement of the existing interconnectors between the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and the Partner Countries in order to facilitate energy trading of the power generated from the Inga 3 Hydropower Project.
Being one of the Transit Countries, Zimbabwe is a crucial and strategic party to the success of the Inga 3 Transmission Project.
The project has the capacity to generate more than 40 000 Mega Watts of hydropower from the Congo River and necessitates establishing a transmission scheme traversing through Zambia, Zimbabwe, and/or Botswana (Transit Countries) to deliver power to South Africa, while the Transit Countries will have the opportunity to draw power from the scheme.
The Memorandum of Understanding will provide the necessary framework for cooperation between the parties to facilitate the development and implementation of the project.
REPORTS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS MATTERS
Report on His Excellency the President’s Attendance at the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit: Nairobi, Kenya: October 8th to 9th, 2025
Cabinet considered and noted the Report on His Excellency the President, Mnangagwa’s Attendance at the 24th COMESA Summit: Nairobi, Kenya: October 8th to 9th, 2025.
His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, attended the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Summit, which was held under the theme “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
His Excellency the President, Mnangagwa, was elected Incoming Chair (Vice Chairman) of COMESA.
Zimbabwe will host the 25th COMESA Summit in 2026 and thereafter assume Chairmanship.
Zimbabwe’s election as Vice Chair of COMESA enhances its influence in steering the regional integration agenda.
The country stands to benefit from access to digitalised trade systems and market linkages, infrastructure and clean energy financing through COMESA programmes, expanded Small and Medium Enterprises, women and youth financing via COMESA financial institutions, agriculture value-chain support, especially in horticulture, and enhanced regional mobility and investment climate through the Business Visa and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiatives.
Report on Honourable Vice President Mohadi’s Visit to Osaka, Japan for the 2025 EXPO: SEPTEMBER 30TH TO OCTOBER 9TH 2025
Cabinet received and noted the report on the Visit to Osaka, Japan for the 2025 EXPO by the Honourable Vice President Mohadi from September 30th to October 9th, 2025.
The trip followed His Excellency the President Cde Dr Mnangagwa’s visit to the World Expo 2025 in July 2025 for Zimbabwe Day. The World Expo 2025 Osaka Theme Week on Sustainable Development Goals took place under the theme “Beyond Future Society for Life.”
Key highlights of the visit by the Vice President included the following: the visit to one of the world’s leading manufacturing technology trade shows, the Manufacturing World Osaka.
The expo features ten specialised shows in areas such as Mechanical Components and Minerals Development; Design Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions; Factory Facilities and Equipment; Manufacturing Cyber Security; and Smart Maintenance, among others.
The Vice President had the opportunity to interface with Japan’s deployment of frontier technologies such as cashless public service operations, biometric access and payment systems, and assessed their applicability to the Zimbabwean public sector.
The Vice President also visited the Nakanoshima Qross International Institute of Future Medicine, which focuses on advanced medical technologies, and Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital, which features cutting-edge technology that exemplifies the current and future directions of medicine.
In addition, he visited Zimbabwe’s pavilion and witnessed the impressive virtual reality exhibition showcasing Zimbabwe’s heritage and handmade crafts of Zimbabwe’s women and youth.
ZIMBABWE THE WORLD’S BEST-MUST-VISIT DESTINATION IN 2025 BY FORBES MAGAZINE
In a development that confirms the continuing success of His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Mnangagwa’s Image Building and Engagement and Re-engagement Programme under the National Development Strategy 1, Cabinet noted and applauded Zimbabwe’s listing as the World’s Best Must-Visit Destination for the year 2025 by Forbes Magazine.
This is a very critical recognition that will attract more people to visit Zimbabwe.
I THANK YOU!
