Zimbabwe’s newly launched National Artificial Intelligence Strategy has garnered praise from various stakeholders as a timely initiative designed to advance the country’s role in the global digital economy while emphasizing local capabilities. The strategy aims to utilize Zimbabwe’s own skills, institutions, and capital to foster economic growth.
In an interview with NewsDay, Last Matema, Secretary of the Indigenous Advisory Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe (IAPAZ), emphasized that the strategy reflects a decisive effort to position Zimbabwe not as a passive consumer of technology, but as an active participant in shaping its digital future. “The launch of the National AI Strategy is a bold and commendable step. It shows that Zimbabwe does not want to be a passive consumer of technology, but rather an active shaper of its own digital future,” Matema stated.
Founded on the principle that Zimbabwe’s socio-economic progress should be primarily driven by local human capital and domestic financial resources, IAPAZ consists of professionals from diverse fields including finance, engineering, law, ICT, governance, and enterprise development. Matema underscored the strategy’s significance in framing artificial intelligence as a practical tool for enhancing productivity rather than a luxury technology.
“For a resource-rich country like Zimbabwe, AI must be seen as an enabler, a way to do more with what we already have, reduce inefficiencies, improve decision-making and support entrepreneurship,” he elaborated. The strategy aligns well with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategies, NDS1 and NDS2, as well as its indigenisation objectives, indicating a coherent approach to economic development.
“There is strong coherence between the AI Strategy and the entrepreneurial spirit promoted under NDS1 and NDS2. The emphasis on innovation, MSMEs, and local solutions directly supports self-employment, value addition and indigenous participation in the economy,” Matema noted.
While the IAPAZ supports the strategic direction, it emphasizes that the AI strategy should be regarded as a living document. Matema advocated for continual refinement based on implementation experiences and emerging lessons. He stressed the importance of deeper engagement with professional institutes and bodies, deeming them crucial partners in translating policy into practice.
“Professional bodies already regulate standards, ethics and continuous skills development across the economy. Integrating them more deliberately into the AI ecosystem would strengthen accountability, build public trust, and accelerate skills diffusion at relatively low cost to the state,” Matema concluded.
As Zimbabwe positions itself to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence, the success of its National AI Strategy will depend significantly on its ability to effectively implement the policy while fostering collaboration with local institutions and stakeholders. The focus on local talent and resources could serve as a blueprint for other nations aiming to navigate the complexities of the digital age.
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