Harare, (New Ziana) –Zimbabwe intensified its push toward a digitally enabled economy this week with the commissioning of the TelOne Centre for Learning (TCFL) Innovation Hub in Harare on Tuesday.
The country also hosted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation Week 2025, a major event signaling it’s accelerating investment in emerging technologies.
Speaking during the 10th graduation ceremony of the TelOne Centre for Learning, the Minister of Information Communication Technology Tatenda Mavetera said the new Innovation Hub marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The facility will support the incubation of telecommunications, ICT and digital solutions, as well as foster industry-focused research and development.
“This was not just ribbon-cutting, it was the opening of a new frontier. Our greatest national wealth is in the minds of our people,” she said, urging institutions of higher learning to drive innovation in line with the Education 5.0 policy, which emphasizes teaching, research, innovation, community service, and industrialization.
Mavetera commended the TCFL graduates for their resilience and urged them to be lifelong learners, noting that the fast-changing digital landscape requires constant upskilling.
She said technologies such as AI, block chain, the Internet of Things and quantum computing are redefining industries and creating new economic opportunities.
“Let change sharpen you, not intimidate you,” she told the graduates.
A central theme of her remarks was Zimbabwe’s newly approved National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030), described as a pioneering blueprint intended to embed AI in national development.
The strategy prioritizes talent development, infrastructure expansion, ethics, global partnerships and national competitiveness. Flagship initiatives include a national AI competition, a centralized data platform, a literacy campaign, a regulatory sandbox and an innovation fund.
Mavetera later delivered a keynote address at the opening of the UNDP AI and Innovation Week 2025, where she emphasised Zimbabwe’s readiness to adopt responsible AI and frontier technologies.
She said Zimbabwe fully embraces an inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation ecosystem that advances its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-20230).
Delegates attending the UNDP AI Innovation Week include policymakers, innovators, academia, youth, development partners, and private-sector leaders.
Mavetera said the Government recognises the importance of an inclusive AI innovation ecosystem in transforming the country into an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
“Zimbabwe is ready to step confidently into the era of AI, frontier technologies, and innovation-led development, as this is central to accelerating national development, enhancing public services, and improving industrial competitiveness. We need disruptive thinkers who are agents for positive transformation,” she said.
She added that the influence of AI assists in meeting targets set in the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2), and there will be opportunities to strengthen national export competitiveness, equip youth with digital skills, improve efficiency in government service delivery, create new industries, jobs, and innovation-driven enterprises.
“The influence of AI is already visible in the future of work, security, governance, and global trade. AI readiness is a core priority for building Zimbabwe’s digital economy under NDS2. As a Ministry, we are working on expanding the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which forms the backbone of a safe, efficient, and inclusive digital future.
“Pillars of the DPI include national digital identity systems, secure and interoperable data exchange platforms, online government service expansion, digital payments, and e-government transformation. These investments ensure that all Zimbabweans in both rural and urban areas benefit equally from digital transformation,” Mavetera said.
UNDP Zimbabwe deputy resident representative Challa Getachew said the AI and Innovation week is designed to ensure AI becomes a driving force for economic transformation, improved service delivery, and human development for every Zimbabwean.
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