HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new eleven-member board to lead the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), marking a significant governance step for Zimbabwe’s telecommunications and postal regulatory authority as the country intensifies efforts to expand digital infrastructure and modernise the ICT sector.
The appointments were made in accordance with the provisions of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe Act, which empowers the President to constitute the regulator’s governing board. Announcing the appointments during a press conference in Harare on Monday, Tatenda Mavetera, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, said the new board brings together a blend of expertise expected to strengthen strategic leadership and governance at the telecommunications regulator.
The announcement was made in the presence of Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Beulah Chirume. Leading the board is Professor Sam Takavarasha Jnr, who has been appointed chairperson, while Ms Barbara Mukahanana will serve as vice chairperson. Mr Prince Sibanda has been designated as the Ministry’s technical representative on the board.
Other members appointed to the board include Ms Tofara Audrey Nyoni, Miss Michelle Madyira, Advocate Sebastian Masimba Guwuriro, Dr Siyakha Njabuliso Mthunzi, Dr Miriam Mugwati, Mr Caos Nzenze, Dr Maneta Linnys Dzauma and Dr Prince Mushaninga.
The newly constituted board is expected to play a pivotal role in guiding POTRAZ as Zimbabwe navigates a rapidly evolving digital landscape characterised by expanding broadband infrastructure, mobile connectivity growth, fintech innovation, and increasing demand for reliable telecommunications services.
The regulator sits at the centre of Zimbabwe’s digital economy, overseeing spectrum allocation, licensing of telecommunications operators, postal services regulation, and consumer protection within the ICT sector. Its governance structure therefore carries strategic importance in ensuring regulatory stability and enabling innovation within the industry.
The appointment of the new board comes at a time when Zimbabwe is accelerating digital transformation programmes under the government’s broader modernisation and industrialisation agenda. Through POTRAZ, authorities are pursuing initiatives aimed at expanding internet access, strengthening rural connectivity, and promoting technological innovation across sectors.
Industry observers note that the effectiveness of the new board will largely depend on its ability to balance regulatory oversight with policies that encourage investment in telecommunications infrastructure, a critical pillar for economic growth in the digital era. With telecommunications increasingly forming the backbone of modern economies, the new leadership at POTRAZ is expected to shape policy direction and regulatory frameworks that will influence Zimbabwe’s digital ecosystem in the coming years.
