Zimbabwe Unveils 2026–2030 AI Strategy to Advance Inclusive Digital Transformation

At Zimbabwe’s New Parliament House on Friday, the country signalled its intent to step decisively into the heart of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With the formal launch of the Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026–2030, His Excellency Dr. Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe framed AI not as a distant, abstract technology, but as a strategic lever for national development, economic transformation and social progress. 

Side by side with the United Nations, represented by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Edward Kallon, Zimbabwe positioned itself as not just a consumer of AI technologies, but an emerging architect of how they will be used on the African continent.

“This strategy,” President Mnangagwa declared, “marks a new chapter in our country’s development trajectory,” one he said must be “home-grown, inclusive and anchored in our national values, interests and aspirations.”

AI as a development tool, not a luxury

From the outset, the President’s message underlined that artificial intelligence is no longer optional for countries seeking to modernize. “Artificial Intelligence is central to the ongoing global technological transformation,” he said. “For Zimbabwe, it is critical to our modernization, industrialization and sustainable socio-economic growth.”

The Head of State described AI as a strategic catalyst – a cross-cutting tool that can raise productivity, improve public services, and help the country leapfrog stages of development. In his view, AI must become embedded in the national development agenda, complementing existing plans such as Vision 2030 and the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan.

Mr. Kallon echoed that view, tying Zimbabwe’s strategy to global developments. Just recently, the UN General Assembly in New York had adopted a landmark resolution on “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development.” “Its message is clear,” Mr. Kallon said. “AI must be inclusive, not exclusionary; it must accelerate development, not deepen divides; and it must be safe, secure and trustworthy, or it will not be sustainable. Zimbabwe’s AI strategy is an opportunity to put that vision into practice—here, now, for the benefit of all.”

At the core of Zimbabwe’s new strategy lie  interlinked pillars designed to move the country from aspiration to implementation. The pillars include, targeting people – the skills, knowledge and creativity needed to build and govern AI systems. President Mnangagwa called for a fundamental reorientation of the education system “from primary to tertiary level” towards STEM, coding and data literacy. AI Centres of Excellence will be established, with funding for research and development, and deliberate efforts to make AI careers attractive for young Zimbabweans. Mr. Kallon underscored why this is urgent. “AI’s potential will only be realized if Zimbabwe invests in STEM and digital skills, and supports lifelong learning and reskilling as jobs evolve,” he said, adding that the UN system would support this skills transition, with a focus on ensuring no one and no place is left behind.

The message to the country’s youth was direct. The President urged young “techno-preneurs” to “push creative boundaries and develop solutions that build Zimbabwe,” linking their efforts to his oft-repeated mantra that “nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo” – a nation is built, governed and prayed for by its own people.

 The second pillar is about building the digital backbone that makes AI possible. Zimbabwe plans to:

• Operationalize the Data Protection Act, creating a secure environment for data use.
• Promote open data and secure data marketplaces.
• Invest in digital infrastructure and cloud computing.
• Fully utilize the High Performance Computing Centre to support AI research and applications.

Mr. Kallon highlighted the importance of this foundation, including reliable, sustainable energy. “AI’s transformative power depends on robust infrastructure and reliable, sustainable energy,” he said. “Here, too, the UN is a partner—drawing on global experience, including through the UN Joint SDG Fund, to pilot catalytic renewable energy investments that can power Zimbabwe’s digital ambitions sustainably.”

The third pillar focuses on getting AI out of the lab and into everyday life. The President announced that government will actively drive AI adoption across all sectors, and will incentivize businesses that use AI to boost efficiency and productivity. Flagship AI projects are planned in:

• Precision agriculture – from crop and climate analytics to early warning systems.
• Predictive healthcare – using data to anticipate disease outbreaks and optimise resources.
• Smart mining – for safer operations, accurate exploration and efficient energy and water use.
• Public service delivery – reducing queues, delays and leakages, improving transparency.
• Anti-corruption – leveraging data analytics to detect irregularities and strengthen accountability.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator painted a vivid picture of what this could mean on the ground. “In agriculture,” he said, “AI-driven climate and crop analytics can guide farmers on when and what to plant, and how to use scarce water and inputs more efficiently.” 

Coupled with improved early warning systems, such tools can help shield livelihoods and improve food security.

In mining, he noted, AI can reduce environmental damage and improve traceability in mineral supply chains. In manufacturing, AI-enabled process optimization can sharpen Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in regional and global value chains. In services, particularly financial services, AI can expand access to credit, savings and insurance—“provided that AI models are designed and governed to avoid bias, discrimination and predatory practices.”

In government, he added, AI can strengthen the delivery of health, education, social protection and tax administration “by improving targeting, reducing leakages and supporting evidence-based policy.”

The fourth pillar addresses the risks of AI head-on. President Mnangagwa stressed that Zimbabwe’s AI journey must be “human-centric, transparent, fair, and free from bias,” protecting national interests and the dignity of all Zimbabweans. He called for a robust legal and ethical framework to govern AI development and deployment.

Mr. Kallon spelt out what that entails, “clear legal and regulatory frameworks for data protection, algorithmic accountability and AI safety; impact assessments for high-risk systems; accessible redress mechanisms; and independent oversight capacities in government, civil society, academia and professional bodies.”

He stressed the need to confront bias and exclusion “by requiring diverse, high-quality datasets, gender-responsive and inclusive design, and meaningful participation of affected communities.”

The messages of the President and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator converged on a central point, trust. Without public trust, the AI project cannot succeed.

Building on a decade of digital progress

President Mnangagwa rooted the AI strategy in a longer trajectory of investment in ICT under the Second Republic. Expansion of connectivity and internet access, modernization of postal and courier services, and integration into e-commerce platforms have created “a strong base and user pool for AI solutions.”

Mr. Kallon described the new strategy as the latest “foundational brick” laid on earlier work supported by the UN, including:

• The 2025 AI Readiness Assessment Methodology report, anchored in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
• The National ICT Strategy and Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan.
• Development of a national media and information literacy policy and community-based early warning systems using the Internet of Things.

“These are the foundational bricks upon which today’s national AI strategy is built,” he said. “Anchored on interrelated pillars and grounded in a home-grown vision of AI, Zimbabwe has earned its place among the community of nations navigating the fourth industrial revolution.”

From launch to implementation

Honourable Tatenda A. Mavetera, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services said, "History shows that each generation adapts uniquely to technological changes. As Zimbabwe aims for Vision 2030, we are ready to engage with the global economy. The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026-2030 highlights our commitment to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and our progress toward a unified digital vision for Zimbabwe. 

The Honourable Minister added, "We stand at the dawn of a new era, a time of unprecedented technological advancement that will reshape our world, where the 21st century is defined by the rapid pace of technological change and at its heart lies Artificial Intelligence. This is not merely a technological shift; it is a fundamental reordering of our society and economies."

For all the ambition on display at New Parliament House, both the President and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator converged on a sobering truth. The true test of the strategy will be on its implementation. Mr. Kallon listed what this will require, “strong continued leadership; sustained investment in infrastructure, skills and institutions; agile regulation; and continuous dialogue among government, private sector, academia, civil society and development partners.”

President Mnangagwa framed the launch as both a commitment and a call to unity. With this strategy, he said, Zimbabwe “affirms its readiness to embrace AI responsibly and ambitiously,” and to harness it so that the country becomes “a smarter, more efficient and prosperous nation.”

What happens next—in classrooms and coding bootcamps; in farms and factories; in Parliament and provincial councils; in start-up garages and government offices—will determine whether this moment becomes a turning point.  But on 13 March 2026, in a chamber built to house Zimbabwe’s democratic aspirations, the country made a clear statement, it intends not merely to watch the AI revolution unfold, but to shape it, according to its own priorities, values and vision for inclusive, sustainable development.