Online Reporter
Jacqueline Ntaka, Feature
ZIMBABWE’S postal and telecommunications sector experienced a significant surge in full-time employment by the end of 2024, with the workforce swelling by 18,58 percent to 7 423 individuals. While this overall growth signals a vibrant digital landscape, a closer examination of sub-sector data reveals a mixed and nuanced narrative, particularly regarding gender representation within this evolving industry.
This expansion reflects Zimbabwe’s accelerating digital adoption and ongoing infrastructural development. However, an analysis of the gender breakdown across various segments highlights both areas of progress and persistent disparities.
The growth within Zimbabwe’s ICT sector is not uniform, with specific segments showing distinct trends for men and women, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) annual report reveals.
Internet Access Providers (IAPs) emerged as the primary engine of job creation, witnessing a remarkable surge in full-time employees from 999 in 2023 to 2 515 by the close of 2024. This robust growth, driven by escalating demand for internet access, led to significant increases for both genders: male employment rose to 1 793 (from 729), and female employment saw a substantial proportional increase to 722 (from 270), though men still hold the majority of positions.
Conversely, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) experienced a slight decline in employment, dropping from 2 450 in 2023 to 2 260 in 2024. This reduction impacted both male (down to 1 362 from 1 491) and female (down to 898 from 959) staff, suggesting potential shifts in operational efficiencies or consolidation within the mobile segment.
The Fixed Network Operators segment saw a modest overall decline, decreasing by 23 employees to 1 587 in 2024. However, despite this overall reduction, female staff numbers within fixed networks actually saw a slight increase to 459 (from 428), indicating a minor positive shift in gender representation in this area.
Similarly, the Postal and Courier Services sector experienced a workforce reduction, with full-time staff declining to 1 061 in 2024 from 1 201. Here too, despite the overall contraction, female employment recorded a small increase to 334 (from 317), suggesting some roles are being retained by women or new female hires are offsetting larger male reductions.
The postal and telecommunications sector is poised for further significant evolution, propelled by increasing digital adoption, continuous network development, and a growing tech-savvy population. Sustained expansion of mobile and fixed broadband, coupled with rising smartphone penetration, is expected to continually spur demand for online services, e-commerce, and social media engagement.
Future strategic investments in fibre optic networks, data centres, and 5G rollouts across the country will be crucial in bolstering Zimbabwe’s burgeoning digital economy and bridging the digital divide. These advancements are also set to accelerate the growth of e-commerce, fintech, and digital financial services, promoting cross-border digital trade as envisioned under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Innovation hubs at Zimbabwean universities are expected to fuel technological start-ups and diverse employment paths for youth. While online shopping is set to boost courier volumes, creating opportunities, its full potential hinges on robust delivery channels and the licensing of currently unregulated operators.
As the ICT sector continues its rapid expansion, close monitoring of gender participation will be crucial to ensure that the benefits of this growth are distributed equitably, fostering a truly inclusive digital economy for all Zimbabweans.
Jacqueline Ntaka is the CEO of Mviyo Technologies, a local tech company that provides custom software development, mobile applications and data analytics solutions. She can be contacted on [email protected]
