Zimbabwe launches milestone AI strategy

by MARCUS MUSHONGA

HARARE – THE launch of the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy is a milestone in the Southern African country’s ambitious digital transformation targets.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the strategy, focusing on 2026-2030, this past weekend as part of plans aiming to transition Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy through technology, infrastructure development and increased digital literacy.

The theme of the strategy is, “Harnessing AI for Inclusive National Development”

Mnangagwa described the policy as a bold step towards a digitally robust and agile nation.

Launching the blueprint at Parliament Building in the capital Harare, he explained the strategy was anchored in a number of pillars, including talent and capacity development, infrastructure sovereignty, AI adoption and ethical governance.

“We are modernising our education with STEM and coding while investing in cloud computing and high-performance centers to empower our research ecosystem,” the president said.

STEM is acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Our goal is a human-centric approach to technology that enhances precision agriculture, smart mining, healthcare diagnostics and other critical areas,” Mnangagwa said.

Edward Kallon, head of the United Nations in Zimbabwe, welcomed the launch of the AI strategy as a historic milestone.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said the strategy aimed to position Zimbabwe to use the power of AI for innovation, economic growth and inclusive development.

– CAJ News