Zimbabwe drives digital transformation agenda under NDS2 and Vision 2030
Date: 2026-01-20
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Zimbabwe’s
Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services
(ICTPCS) has outlined key milestones achieved in 2025 toward the country’s
economic transformation agenda under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2)
for 2026–2030 and Vision 2030.
Speaking
at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting, the Minister of ICTPCS, Tatenda
Mavetera, highlighted progress made in strengthening digital governance,
expanding digital inclusion, and accelerating sector growth. She announced the
completion of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the National
Cybersecurity Strategy, positioning the country to better manage emerging
technologies while enhancing trust and resilience within its digital ecosystem.
The
Minister noted significant expansion of digital inclusion initiatives,
including the Presidential Internet Scheme, the Telemedicine Project, the
Digital Skills Ambassadors Programme, and the rollout of Community Digital
Centres aimed at improving access to digital services across the country.
According to the ministry, the ICT sector recorded a 14.5 percent growth in
investment, supported by high levels of mobile penetration and increased uptake
of digital services.
Hon.
Mavetera stressed that digital skills development, inclusivity, and
public-private partnerships remain central to the government’s ambition of
building a fully digital economy by 2030. She underscored the importance of
collaboration with industry players to ensure that technological progress
translates into broad-based socio-economic benefits.
During
the engagement, stakeholders raised a number of structural challenges that
continue to affect the pace of digital transformation. These included high data
costs, persistent infrastructure gaps in rural and underserved communities, and
slow progress in the local manufacturing of ICT hardware such as laptops, which
impacts affordability, skills development, and industrialisation.
The
government acknowledged the concerns and reaffirmed its commitment to sustained
dialogue with fiscal authorities, local government institutions, and industry
stakeholders. The ministry indicated that ongoing engagements will focus on
reducing the cost of connectivity, accelerating infrastructure deployment, and
driving practical, inclusive digital transformation across Zimbabwe.
The
meeting brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors,
including TelOne Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, NetOne Cellular, Powertel
Communications, ZARNet, the Zimbabwe Computer Society, Aura Group, and the
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
