President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026–2030.
Speaking at the launch at the New Parliament Building on Friday, 13 March, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, said the strategy is a home‑grown blueprint aimed at driving inclusive economic growth in line with Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
Mavetera said the strategy was developed through a comprehensive policy process led by the Ministry of ICT, guided by the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment for Zimbabwe and informed by nationwide consultations.
She also said a wide range of stakeholders were involved in shaping the strategy, including farmers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, technopreneurs, educators, and national leaders. This broad engagement, she said, was essential to ensure the strategy reflects the country’s needs.
The minister added that the strategy embraces the Education 5.0 philosophy, prioritising AI literacy and capability development from primary school through to university level.
Mavetera said the strategy is built around six key pillars: AI talent development, infrastructure and computational sovereignty, public sector transformation, governance and ethics, research and innovation, and international collaboration and diplomacy.
She also revealed the governance structures established to ensure effective implementation, which are the National Digital Regulatory Committee, the AI Strategy Implementation Office, and various technical working groups. She said:
“I am excited to announce five key initiatives to launch our national AI mission within the first 18 months, including the AI Grand Challenge, the National AI and Data Platform, the AI for Every Zimbabwe campaign, a National AI Regulatory Sandbox and the National AI Innovation Fund.”
She said that putting the strategy into action will require substantial investment and close collaboration between universities, the private sector, civil society, development partners, and the Zimbabwean diaspora.
More: The Herald
Pindula WhatsApp Channel
Facebook Page
Leave a Reply