By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
POTRAZ Director General Dr Gift Machengete has underscored the importance of collaboration and clear role demarcation between the Ministry of ICT, the POTRAZ Board, and management in achieving Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
Speaking at the 2024 Annual Strategic Planning Workshop, Dr Machengete likened organizational roles to vehicles on a highway, emphasizing that staying in one’s lane ensures efficiency and prevents “chaos and inefficiency.”
“While we may have different roles, those roles are designed to complement each other,” said Dr. Machengete, using the metaphor of an axe and a razor blade to highlight the importance of teamwork.
He also welcomed the participation of the Corporate Governance Unit (CGU) for the first time, noting its role in helping POTRAZ align its governance structure for greater effectiveness.
The workshop, attended by key stakeholders including Minister of ICT Dr. Tatenda Mavetera and Deputy Minister Hon. Dingimuzi Phuti, reflects a commitment to aligning strategies and ensuring a unified approach to ICT development.
POTRAZ Board Chair, Dr Zvobgo Zvobgo said 2024 was testament to resilience and adaptability, but cautioned to approach 2025 with even greater boldness.
“As we look ahead to 2025, our mission is not merely to maintain standards but to elevate them. “As George Bernard Shaw aptly put it, ‘Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.’
“We must be change agents, embracing transformation to keep Zimbabwe at the forefront of telecommunications,” Dr Zvobgo said.
“Our focus moving forward must be on enhancing regulatory efficiency, fostering inclusive digital growth, and embracing innovative solutions to shape the future of our industry.
“We expect management to deliver on strategic projects with precision, uphold a high standard of service delivery, and remain agile in responding to market shifts.
“Agility is not a luxury in our field; it is a necessity. In the words of Charles Darwin, ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.’ This applies to our work more than ever.”
He said Artificial Intelligence (AI) was at the heart of unprecedented technological change.
“AI is transforming every aspect of our world—how we communicate, how we regulate, how we operate. It is no longer a distant future but an urgent present that is reshaping industries, especially telecommunications,” Dr Zvobgo said.
As POTRAZ looks ahead to 2025, this alignment is expected to drive progress and innovation in Zimbabwe’s ICT sector.
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