Mutambara calls for urgent AI reskilling drive across Africa

By Mbekezeli Ncube

Professor Arthur Mutambara has urged African governments, industry players and academic institutions to urgently scale up reskilling initiatives to prepare workers for the rapid disruption being driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Speaking during a public lecture titled “Embracing the Artificial Intelligence Revolution in Africa: Understanding both the Promise and the Peril” held at Midlands State University in Gweru, Mutambara said the continent must act decisively to remain competitive in a fast-evolving global economy.

He said the future of work in Africa depends on the ability of societies to retrain workers whose jobs are being reshaped or displaced by automation and intelligent systems.

“We must prepare and reskill people to take up modified jobs. We must create new competences, new capabilities and new skills to embrace new jobs. That is what we need to do as a country, as a region and as a continent,” said Prof Mutambara.

He warned that failure to adapt could trigger large-scale job losses as AI and automation continue to transform industries across the board.

“Reskill those who are going to lose jobs. We cannot stop technological progress, but we can prepare our people for it. Workers must be empowered with new digital skills, critical thinking abilities and technological competences so that they are able to transition into new industries and modified forms of employment,” he said.

Mutambara added that without deliberate investment in human capital, AI risks widening inequality and unemployment across Africa. However, he argued that with the right policies, the technology could instead become a driver of productivity, innovation and inclusive growth.

“If we fail to prepare our citizens, Artificial Intelligence will deepen unemployment and inequality across Africa. However, if we invest in education, innovation and training, AI can become a tool for economic growth, productivity and prosperity,” he said.

He emphasised that Africa must avoid being left behind in the global technology race, warning that the continent risks becoming a passive consumer of innovations developed elsewhere if it does not invest in research, education and digital infrastructure.

“The AI revolution is not coming; it is already here. The question is whether Africa is ready to participate meaningfully or whether we will simply become consumers of technologies developed elsewhere,” he said.

Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa said the lecture aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader higher education transformation agenda, particularly the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which emphasises innovation, industrialisation and community impact.

“The lecture aligns with the country’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which seeks to ensure universities contribute directly to national development through innovation, research and community engagement,” he said.

He added that universities have a critical role in preparing students for emerging global trends such as AI through practical skills development, innovation and problem-solving-oriented learning.