By Dickson Bandera
Harare — Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, has defended Zimbabwe’s forthcoming National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, saying it is a long-term, structured plan designed to tackle the country’s foundational gaps in power supply, digital infrastructure and skills development.
The minister was responding to public critique by investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who questioned the country’s readiness to pursue AI leadership amid persistent challenges in electricity supply, broadband penetration and data centre capacity.
In a detailed response, Dr Mavetera acknowledged the validity of the concerns raised, but said the AI strategy was never premised on denying existing constraints.
“You are correct that AI leadership is built on compute, research, infrastructure and talent,” she said. “Our National AI Strategy is explicitly designed to address these fundamentals, not as a single event but as a coordinated, multi-year framework.”
She said the strategy openly recognises gaps in power, connectivity and skills, and provides a structured roadmap to address them over time.
Energy, Connectivity and Infrastructure
Dr Mavetera said Government is already working with the Ministry of Energy to develop dedicated renewable energy solutions for digital infrastructure zones, while engagements with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) are aimed at accelerating broadband rollout through a national broadband mapping and implementation programme.
She also pointed to private sector-led developments, including a new industrial park being developed by Econet Infra Co, which she said is expected to boost national power availability and data centre capacity.
Diaspora Skills and Talent Repatriation
Addressing concerns around skills shortages, the minister said the AI strategy includes the “Zimbabwe Digital Talent Repatriation and Incentive Scheme,” aimed at attracting skilled professionals in the diaspora back home.
The scheme will offer tax incentives, research grants and opportunities under public-private partnerships, she said.
Data Centres and Private Investment
Responding to questions on data centre development, Dr Mavetera clarified that Government does not intend to independently build and operate hyperscale facilities.
“The term ‘sovereign’ refers to national control over data governance and security policy, not state-owned infrastructure,” she said.
Government’s role, she added, is to create an enabling environment for private investment, a process she described as continuous rather than event-based.
She said authorities are finalising a Data Centre Policy and Incentives Framework, which will include tax holidays, duty exemptions on imported equipment and guarantees for utility redundancy partnerships.
Dr Mavetera revealed that Zimbabwe is in advanced discussions with several regional and international operators for public-private partnerships (PPPs), with announcements expected after financial closure.
She said the country’s first pilot project to enhance data capacity was the upgrading and launch of a high-performance computing (HPC) facility in the third quarter of 2025. Government is also constructing a new data centre in Harare, alongside a disaster recovery facility in Bulawayo.
AI as a Targeted Development Tool
On the idea of AI as a “leapfrog” tool, the minister conceded that artificial intelligence is not a “magic solution” but an efficiency multiplier.
She said Zimbabwe’s approach is sector-specific, focusing on high-impact areas where AI can help bypass slower, traditional development stages.
E-Government and Investor Confidence
Dr Mavetera said the Enterprise Architecture Model for e-government is now 88 percent complete and is expected to be launched in the first half of the year. She added that a Cabinet-mandated committee is working to fast-track the digitisation of all civil records.
On investor engagement, she said the “Open for Smart, Ethical Partnerships” policy refers to the establishment of the Zimbabwe Tech Partnership Gateway, a framework meant to convert investor interest into protected, actionable projects.
“I acknowledge past investor concerns,” she said. “This new, structured gateway is designed to move beyond conference diplomacy to a measurable investment pipeline.”
The minister said progress under the AI strategy will be tracked through publicly available key performance indicators, to be reported quarterly.
“Our success depends not on rhetoric, but on planned, measurable execution, and on the vigilance and partnership of all our citizens,” she said, urging continued public scrutiny as implementation unfolds.
