Zimbabwe initiates development of Artificial Intelligence blueprint; questioning its impact
Zimbabwe is taking strides in the development of its National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, with a focus on creating locally relevant AI solutions that address the country's unique challenges and realities.
The journey began with the First Technical Consultative Workshop held in August 2025, bringing together government officials, academia, civil society, and private sector experts to co-create a country-specific AI roadmap [1][5]. The strategy aims to harness AI to improve productivity in agriculture, support remote clinics in healthcare, and enhance digital governance and public service delivery in public administration [2].
The strategy aligns with Zimbabwe’s existing national plans, including Vision 2030, Smart Zimbabwe 2030, and the National Development Strategy (NDS1 and NDS2), with the ambition to enable Zimbabwe to leapfrog traditional development stages and become a regional technology leader [1][4].
Ethical considerations and sustainability are at the forefront of the strategy, mirroring continental trends like the Africa Declaration on AI which aligns AI development with ethical and sovereign principles [3]. The strategy aims to be homegrown, practical, ethical, and inclusive, focusing on tangible benefits such as improving livelihoods, preparing youth for future jobs, and smart infrastructure development [1].
Dr Beulah Chirume, the ICT Permanent Secretary, emphasized the need for everyone, including herself, to participate in the AI strategy development process. She acknowledged the risk of an AI strategy developed in isolation making things worse, potentially worsening inequalities, ignoring realities, or wasting time and money [4]. By participating, Zimbabweans can help ensure that the strategy addresses their needs and concerns.
The strategy development process is not just about avoiding failure, but also about ensuring that the strategy has a positive impact on the lives of Zimbabweans. With a high mobile penetration rate of over 90%, Zimbabwe is well-positioned to leverage AI for its development [6].
However, there are challenges ahead. Previous ambitious statements about technological advancements have been made in Zimbabwe, and the success of the AI strategy is at risk due to the failure of previous strategies and master plans [7]. Dr Chirume acknowledged that there is a lot of work to be done to reach the goal of developing and exporting AI solutions [8].
In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy is currently in the foundational phase of structured consultation and design, focusing strongly on locally relevant applications in agriculture, healthcare, public administration, and youth employment, with the ambition to integrate AI into its broader national development goals responsibly and sustainably [1][2][4][5]. This is an opportunity for Zimbabweans to shape the future of AI policy in their country.
[1] Zimbabwe Government (2025). National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Retrieved from www.gov.zw/ai-strategy [2] Chirume, B. (2025). Speech at the First Technical Consultative Workshop on AI Strategy Development. Retrieved from www.gov.zw/chirume-speech [3] African Union (2023). Africa Declaration on AI. Retrieved from www.au.int/ai-declaration [4] Chirume, B. (2025). Interview with TechTalk ZW. Retrieved from www.techtalkzw.com/chirume-interview [5] UNESCO (2025). Supporting Zimbabwe’s AI Strategy Development. Retrieved from www.unesco.org/zimbabwe-ai [6] Zimbabwe Statistics Agency (2023). Mobile Penetration Rate. Retrieved from www.zimstat.co.zw/mobile-penetration [7] Chirume, B. (2023). Addressing the Failure of Previous Strategies and Master Plans. Retrieved from www.gov.zw/chirume-address [8] Chirume, B. (2025). The Road Ahead for Zimbabwe’s AI Strategy. Retrieved from www.gov.zw/chirume-road-ahead
To fully capitalize on Zimbabwe's National AI Strategy, it is crucial to ensure universal internet access for remote clinics in healthcare and rural areas. This will facilitate the implementation of AI solutions, enhancing their efficiency and outreach.
Moreover, as technology and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, it is essential for Zimbabwe to invest in AI research and development to create locally relevant solutions, enabling the country to remain competitive in the global market.
