By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
VICTORIA FALLS — Zimbabwe has launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030), becoming one of the first countries in Southern Africa with a dedicated, whole-of-government roadmap for AI development.
The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Dingimuzi Phuti, who was standing in for Minister Hon. Tatenda Mavetera during the official opening of the 2nd Africa Preparatory Meeting for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) in Victoria Falls.
The strategy, launched in March 2026, is anchored on what officials describe as “Ubuntu-led innovation” — ensuring that AI serves people rather than displacing them.
“We do not come to this table empty-handed,” said Deputy Minister Phuti, reading from Minister Mavetera’s keynote address. “Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, we have been building a robust digital policy architecture.”
The AI strategy rests on three key pillars: AI skills development, ethical governance, and computational sovereignty.
Minister Mavetera, who was recently appointed to the Smart Africa AI Board alongside other distinguished African ministers and experts, noted that the strategy positions Zimbabwe to move from being a rule-taker to a co-author of the global digital rulebook.
“I do not carry this responsibility for Zimbabwe alone,” the Minister stated in her address. “I carry it for every young African girl and boy who dreams of building the next great African AI startup. I carry it for every policymaker seeking guidance on ethical algorithms.”
The strategy comes as African nations increasingly push for a unified continental stance on artificial intelligence ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference later this year, where global AI governance frameworks will be debated.
Zimbabwe’s early move into AI policy development is expected to serve as a reference point for other Southern African nations still drafting their own frameworks. The government has indicated that implementation will begin immediately, with pilot projects planned in healthcare, agriculture, and public service delivery.
Analysts have welcomed the strategy’s emphasis on “Ubuntu-led innovation,” noting that it distinguishes Zimbabwe’s approach from Western or Chinese AI models by prioritising community welfare and ethical considerations over purely commercial or surveillance applications.
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