Govt unveils national AI strategy
SAMANTHA MADE
Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy (2026–2030), marking a major step toward integrating AI into the country’s national development agenda.
The Strategy forms a critical component of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Architecture and the National ICT Policy, aiming to harness AI’s economic potential while managing its disruptive effects.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, said the Strategy follows the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Report, which Cabinet approved in June 2025.
“The RAM report highlighted the need for a coordinated national approach to AI,” Dr. Muswere said. “Cabinet considered and approved the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026 to 2030) as a component of the Information Communication Technology Architecture and the National Information Communication Technology Policy. The development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is in direct response to the need to properly harness the economic benefits and disruptive effects of AI in the era of emerging technologies.”
Dr. Muswere said the Strategy is firmly aligned with the country’s existing national frameworks, including Heritage-Based Education 5.0, the Ubuntu citizen-centric philosophy, and Smart Zimbabwe, and builds upon the Cyber and Data Protection Act and the Postal and Telecommunications Act to ensure an agile and secure national approach to AI. “The Strategy is a declaration of intent to actively shape the country’s technological future based on three core imperatives, namely: economic sovereignty and competitiveness to transition from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy; cultural and social determination to instil Zimbabwean values and the philosophy of Unhu/Ubuntu; and inclusive and resilient development where Artificial Intelligence is used to solve challenges and bridge the urban-rural divide by leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
The Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy will be anchored on six pillars, including AI Talent and Capacity Development, National AI Infrastructure and Computational Sovereignty, AI Adoption and Service Transformation, Governance, Ethics and Regulatory Framework, Research, Development and Innovation, and Strategic International Collaboration and Diplomacy.
To accelerate implementation, five flagship initiatives have been proposed. These include the Zimbabwe Artificial Grand Challenge, a national competition to drive innovation and generate AI-driven solutions to pressing national challenges; the National Artificial Intelligence and Data Platform (Project Pangolin/Haka/Inkaka), which provides centralized access to data and computational resources for researchers and innovators; the “Nzwisiso National Literacy Campaign”, aimed at educating citizens about the opportunities and risks of AI; the National Artificial Regulatory Sandbox (Innovation Crucible/Umthombo Wolwazi), a safe testing space for start-ups and researchers developing AI applications; and the National Artificial Intelligence Innovation Fund (Mugove/Isabelo/Mqhele Fund), which will provide capital for AI-focused start-ups and research projects.
Dr. Muswere added that institutional structures will be established to oversee the rollout of the Strategy, including the National Digital Regulatory Committee under the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and the Artificial Intelligence Strategy Implementation Office within the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services.
These bodies will ensure effective coordination, compliance, and continuous review of Zimbabwe’s AI initiatives, positioning the country as a regional leader in responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence development.
