Government has stepped up strategic engagements with Zimbabwe’s telecommunications giants as it seeks to reposition the ICT sector as a central pillar of economic transformation, with Artificial Intelligence, data affordability and infrastructure expansion emerging as the defining pillars of the reform agenda.
The Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, today held a series of separate high-level meetings with NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, TelOne Chief Executive Officer Engineer Lawrence Nkala, and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe CEO Dr Douglas Mboweni, in consultations that signalled a deliberate shift from routine regulatory interaction towards policy-driven sector realignment.
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Book NowAt the core of the discussions was the imperative to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence across telecom operations and services. Beyond automation and customer service optimisation, AI was framed as a strategic enabler for predictive network management, fraud detection, smart pricing models and new digital products, positioning telecom operators not merely as connectivity providers but as technology-driven platforms for national productivity. This reflects Government’s broader push to integrate emerging technologies into mainstream economic activity rather than confining them to experimental or peripheral use.
Data affordability emerged as both an economic and social issue, with the Minister urging operators to reassess pricing structures in line with national digital inclusion objectives. In an economy increasingly dependent on digital platforms for education, trade, financial services and public administration, data pricing has effectively become a determinant of who participates in the modern economy and who is left behind. Government’s intervention therefore signals a policy shift that views internet access less as a commercial commodity and more as strategic national infrastructure.
Network expansion was equally elevated as a structural priority rather than a routine business obligation. Hon Mavetera emphasised the need for sustained investment in backbone and last-mile infrastructure, particularly in rural and marginalised communities where connectivity gaps continue to reinforce economic and social exclusion. The push for wider coverage is also tied to the Government’s rural industrialisation, e-learning and e-health ambitions, all of which hinge on reliable digital connectivity.
Crucially, the engagements also opened space for operators to raise systemic constraints affecting sector performance, including statutory obligations, regulatory costs and the cumulative burden of fees and levies. In response, the Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the ICT sector, disclosing that fees and levies announced in December are now set for downward review. This signals a recognition that sector sustainability and affordability cannot be achieved through price controls alone but must be supported by a more enabling regulatory and fiscal environment.
Taken together, the discussions point to a maturing policy posture in which Government is increasingly treating the ICT sector not just as a revenue-generating industry, but as a strategic economic enabler whose efficiency, inclusivity and innovation capacity directly shape national competitiveness.
As Zimbabwe positions itself for a digital-driven growth trajectory, the outcomes of these engagements will likely define whether the ICT sector evolves into a catalyst for broad-based development or remains constrained by cost barriers, uneven access and limited technological depth. The emphasis on AI, affordability and structural reform suggests that Government is now seeking to decisively tilt the balance towards the former.
