Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera has called for stronger partnerships between Zimbabwe, India and other African countries to accelerate technology investment, develop digital skills and create employment opportunities.
Speaking as guest of honour at the Zimbabwe-India-Africa Tech and Entrepreneurship Summit 2026, held at Hyatt Regency Harare, The Meikles, on Wednesday, Mavetera said technology must translate into productive employment, stronger businesses and improved public services.
“My message on the future of the IT sector in Zimbabwe is straightforward: technology must create productive work, strengthen businesses and improve public services. Its value must reach the farmer seeking a market, the graduate seeking employment and the citizen seeking efficient service,” she said addressing government officials, business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and technology stakeholders who came to explore opportunities for collaboration between Zimbabwe, India and the wider African region.
Mavetera said the country’s digital development ambitions, guided by Vision 2030, should deliver tangible economic benefits and widen participation in the digital economy.
She highlighted the potential for partnerships with India to combine its experience in technology with Zimbabwe’s understanding of local markets and customer needs.
“India’s technology sector brings experience that can complement Zimbabwean knowledge of local markets and customer needs,” she said, encouraging investors to work with local businesses and develop the capabilities of Zimbabwean professionals.
The minister identified affordable digital infrastructure as a key requirement for expanding access to technology, particularly in rural communities where reliable connectivity and electricity remain important considerations.
Citing second-quarter 2026 sector figures, she said Zimbabwe recorded 17.19 million active mobile subscriptions, while mobile data traffic increased by 6.92 percent to 191.73 petabytes.
She also referred to the 2025 ICT household survey, conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, which reported that 75.5 percent of households had internet access at home, while only 11.2 percent owned a computer.
The figures, she said, demonstrated the opportunities presented by growing connectivity and the barriers that must be addressed to ensure more people can benefit from digital services.
Mavetera called for investment in dependable infrastructure, affordable devices and practical digital skills, urging telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers and investors to explore partnerships that could extend access and reduce costs.
The minister placed particular emphasis on developing skills that connect young people to productive work, identifying software development, cybersecurity and data analysis among the areas requiring attention.
She urged employers and training institutions to collaborate on paid apprenticeships and joint projects that would give young people practical experience and clearer pathways into employment.
Mavetera also stressed the importance of ensuring that women and girls, persons with disabilities and people in rural communities were included in the country’s digital transformation.
“To our Indian partners, I encourage collaboration that develops Zimbabwean teams and gives them progressively greater responsibility,” she said, adding that skills transfer should be demonstrated through the ability of local professionals to independently design, operate and improve technology solutions.
She further encouraged businesses to support emerging technology enterprises by purchasing suitable locally developed products and services.
According to Mavetera, commercial contracts can provide small technology companies with revenue, practical experience and references that help them secure additional business.
She said public procurement could also create opportunities for capable local enterprises, provided applicable rules were followed and evaluation processes remained transparent.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was another key area highlighted in the minister’s address, with Mavetera calling for practical applications that solve problems and deliver measurable value.
She noted that Zimbabwe’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2026 to 2030, launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2026, provided a framework for advancing the technology’s application.
Potential uses include improving agricultural advisory services, supporting maintenance planning in manufacturing and helping public institutions identify delays in service delivery.
However, she said AI systems must be developed and deployed responsibly, with clear accountability where decisions affect people’s health, livelihoods or access to essential services.
Mavetera also underscored the importance of cybersecurity and data protection, urging institutions to understand their legal obligations and establish sound practices for managing information.
She said cross-border technology partnerships must clearly define responsibilities before systems are connected or information shared.
The minister welcomed proposals presented by the summit organisers for an anchor outsourcing partnership and an AI data and language studio, describing them as areas for further discussion alongside software development and digitally delivered services.
She said a language studio could create paid opportunities involving English, Shona and Ndebele, provided that data was collected lawfully and supported by fair contracts and quality assurance.
An outsourcing partnership, meanwhile, could connect Zimbabwean technology teams with international clients while helping local businesses progressively strengthen their capabilities.
Mavetera also highlighted the role of postal and courier services in supporting digital trade, noting that successful online transactions depended on reliable payments, clear consumer rights and effective delivery systems.
She urged investors to present credible proposals, engage local companies and clearly outline financing and regulatory requirements.
Calling for the summit to deliver practical outcomes, Mavetera proposed that participants identify a manageable pipeline of projects, with each outlining the problem to be addressed, intended users, partners, estimated costs, necessary approvals and next steps.
She also encouraged the convenors and willing partners to consider a voluntary review within 90 days to assess progress, identify obstacles and determine which issues required attention from relevant institutions.
“The future of our IT sector will be shaped by the people we prepare, the services we build and the confidence we earn,” she said.
Mavetera said progress should be measured by the opportunities available to entrepreneurs, the quality of learners’ access to technology and the ease with which citizens obtain public services.
Quoting the Shona proverb, “Chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda,” meaning one finger cannot crush a louse, she stressed that developing Zimbabwe’s technology sector would require collective effort and sustained partnerships.
She officially opened the Zimbabwe-India-Africa Tech and Entrepreneurship Summit 2026, expressing hope that delegates would leave with practical initiatives and commitments capable of advancing investment, innovation and employment.
