Hon Minister Dr Torerai Moyo
By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe has taken a major stride toward digital transformation in education, with the Government procuring 9,000 Starlink satellite kits for deployment across primary and secondary schools nationwide.
Announcing the development during the World Children’s Day commemorations in Harare on Friday, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Hon. Dr Torerayi Moyo said distribution of the kits would commence soon, prioritising schools with little to no connectivity.
“This is a game-changer for our schools, especially those in rural and marginalised areas. Access to the internet is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity in education,” he said.
The Starlink kits, which operate through low-Earth orbit satellites, will provide high-speed, low-latency internet suitable for e-learning, research, virtual classrooms, digital administration, and global academic collaboration. Starlink’s approval earlier this year followed extensive consultations aimed at strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The initiative is anchored in Zimbabwe’s constitutional, regional, and international obligations to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality education. The Constitution of Zimbabwe (Section 75) guarantees every child’s right to education, while the Education Amendment Act of 2020 obliges the State to ensure access to learning resources, including ICTs, for all learners.
Regionally, Zimbabwe is guided by the SADC Protocol on Education and Training, which emphasises the use of technology to improve educational quality.
Globally, the move supports the country’s commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning for all.
Experts note that internet access has become central to modern education systems worldwide. UNESCO estimates that learners with reliable internet access perform up to 30% better academically, owing to improved access to digital learning materials, scientific databases, interactive content, and global communication.
The World Bank also notes that digitally connected schools are more likely to produce students with globally competitive competencies in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
For Zimbabwe, where over 70% of learners live in rural areas, the Starlink initiative marks a turning point. Government records show that about 4,000 schools currently have VSAT or basic connectivity, meaning the new rollout will more than double digital access capacity in the sector.
The programme also complements the Presidential Rural Development Programme and the Presidential Computerisation and Internet Programme, which seek to bring connectivity to all 2,400 wards across the country.
Zimbabwe’s educational strength has long been evident in the global success of its graduates and adjusting to the next level is pertinent.
Over the decades, Zimbabwean-trained professionals have excelled internationally in medicine, engineering, technology, and academia. Among them are global figures such as Dr. Sikhulile Moyo, the internationally recognised virologist who identified the Omicron COVID-19 variant; Dr. Nancy Dzvene, an aerospace engineer contributing to international satellite engineering projects; and Dr. Takudzwa Mandinyenya, a leading AI researcher based in Europe.
These and many others began their academic journeys in Zimbabwe’s public schools—an example, the Minister said, of what becomes possible when a nation invests in education.
Zimbabwe commemorated World Children’s Day under the theme “My Day, My Rights: From Promises to Action,” with stakeholders pledging to strengthen systems that safeguard and empower children. Digital access was identified as one of the most urgent tools needed to unlock the full potential of the nation’s youth.
The government is also implementing complementary reforms to support the digital transition, including ICT training for teachers, solarisation of off-grid schools, expansion of school infrastructure using devolution funds, and the provision of laptops, computers, and tablets through partnerships with development organisations such as UNICEF and UNESCO.
Dr Moyo noted that efforts are underway to integrate solar energy, internet connectivity, ventilation, and improved water and sanitation through borehole drilling programmes in all schools facing wayer challenges to create holistic, enabling learning environments.
The arrival of 9,000 Starlink kits is widely seen as a transformative milestone that could reshape the education sector for generations to come. If rolled out efficiently and supported with adequate training, digital resources, and ongoing infrastructure development, Zimbabwe is well positioned to maintain—and enhance—its long-standing reputation as a regional beacon of educational excellence.
The investment signals a renewed commitment to integrating technology into learning and ensuring that every child, regardless of location or background, has access to the tools needed to thrive in a rapidly digitising world.
