By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
BULAWAYO – For decades, the global technology industry has been synonymous with Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and Shenzhen. Zimbabwe’s ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera is rewriting that map—and placing a pin on Lupane, Murehwa, and Masvingo.
In a keynote address at the International Girls in ICT Day commemoration at NUST on Friday, Minister Mavetera unveiled a decentralized vision for the country’s digital future, arguing that the next great tech entrepreneur is not in Harare’s affluent suburbs but in a rural classroom with a laptop and a connection.
“Innovation is no longer confined to Silicon Valley or foreign capitals,” Mavetera declared. “Innovation can emerge from Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo, Lupane or Murehwa.”
The statement is not merely aspirational. It is the logical conclusion of the government’s newly launched National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which deliberately targets young girls in underserved regions as the primary beneficiaries of several nationwide training programmes.
To turn this vision into reality, the Minister highlighted three flagship initiatives. The first is the 1.5 Million Coders Programme, designed to equip Zimbabwean youth—with priority for girls—with coding, programming, and software development skills regardless of their geographic location.
The second is the Digital Skills Ambassadors Programme, which deploys trained digital literacy advocates to schools and communities in remote areas.
The third is the CyberUS Cybersecurity Training Programme, which introduces young people to the strategic field of cyber defense.
“These programmes are not reserved for a privileged few,” Mavetera emphasized. “They are for you. They are opportunities designed to unlock your potential and prepare you for the jobs and industries of the future.”
The economic logic is simple but profound. A young girl in Murehwa with coding skills and internet access can build a digital business, access global freelance marketplaces, or develop agricultural AI applications tailored to her local farming community.
She does not need to migrate to Harare—or leave the country—to participate in the digital economy.
The Minister also announced tangible infrastructure to support this vision, including the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan and investments in a High Performance Computing Centre. Connectivity, cloud computing, and reliable energy were described as “the foundations your ideas will run on.”
Just last week, Mavetera revealed, the government partnered with FAWEZI and the Mastercard Foundation to provide laptops to nearly 200 students, with special priority given to young women.
Quoting Professor Tagwira, she said: “In this era driven by AI, access to laptops is no longer a luxury but a necessity. These devices are gateways to knowledge, innovation and opportunity.”
The Minister’s message to rural Zimbabwe was unambiguous: “Your background does not determine your future. Your determination does.”
As the event concluded, exhibitors from across the country showcased innovations ranging from agricultural tech to financial inclusion platforms, many developed by young women who had never left their home districts until they were invited to Bulawayo
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