ICT Minister Unveils AI Push at Independence Fete

By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka

MAPHISA – As the nation marked its 46th Independence Anniversary in the rural heartland of Matabeleland South, the celebrations carried a distinctly digital rhythm.

Against the backdrop of traditional song and dance, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honorable Tatenda Mavetera, laid out an ambitious roadmap to drag the province—and the nation—kicking and screaming into the digital age.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the historic event—the first major Independence Day gathering in this part of the province—Minister Mavetera did not mince words about the government’s new frontier.

“This is the first time we have come to Matabeleland South,” Mavetera said, her voice cutting through the festive air. “And His Excellency the President was very clear: we need to fully digitalize the whole province.”

According to the Minister, the government is already walking the talk. In a sweeping update on connectivity projects, she revealed that 42 government institutions in Matabeleland South have now been hooked up to the national grid of information.

The figures are stark: nearly 34 health institutions, 21 police stations, and 50 schools have received connectivity.

“Data is the new currency,” Mavetera declared. “If we are to journey towards Vision 2030, we must create a knowledge-based society. You cannot do that without digital skills.”

From Computer Labs to AI Training

The Minister highlighted that the government has moved beyond mere infrastructure. In a province long criticized for lagging behind in development, 16 computer labs have been established—ensuring that no district is left behind.

Furthermore, 28 free Wi-Fi hotspots have been switched on at growth points and police stations across the region.

“Every district received a computer lab,” she confirmed. “We also trained over 2,000 people in digital skills training through our ‘Digit Track’ programme.”

But the flagship moment came just before the independence festivities, when President Mnangagwa officially opened the Minda Primary School computer lab. Mavetera stressed that this was not a one-off photo opportunity but the beginning of a systemic roll-out.

The AI Revolution Arrives

The Minister’s most striking announcements, however, dealt with the future. Citing the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy on March 18, 2026, Mavetera said Zimbabwe is now in implementation mode.

“There is a need for us to upskill our workforce,” she said. “We are now providing digital skills and AI training for our public servants.

“We are going to be having the AI Grant Challenge, and we are constituting the AI Council within the next 90 days, as per the AI strategy.”

Protecting Citizens Online

With connectivity comes vulnerability, and Mavetera was careful to address the darker side of the digital leap.

She noted that while the Cyber and Data Protection Act is already law, the government is pushing for more specific regulations.

“We are working on a Child Online Protection Policy and regulations,” she said, adding that her ministry is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Information and Publicity to draft specific social media regulations.

“We need to make sure that our citizens are protected online,” Mavetera concluded. “There must be no place that we are leaving behind.”

As the independence celebrations continued into the evening, with drums echoing across Maphisa, the message from the ICT Minister was clear: Zimbabwe’s second revolution will not be fought with spears or stones, but with fiber optics, AI algorithms, and digital literacy.

For Matabeleland South, long seen as a peripheral outpost, the future may finally be arriving—one Wi-Fi hotspot at a time.