By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare — In a significant step towards shaping its digital future, Zimbabwe officially launched the UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Report, titled “People and Possibilities in the Age of AI,” during a high-level breakfast dialogue.
Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera, delivered opening remarks at the high-level breakfast dialogue for the launch of the report in Harare, marking a significant moment in Zimbabwe’s engagement with digital transformation and responsible AI development.
In her remarks, Minister Mavetera emphasized the critical importance of the report as both a mirror of current choices and a compass guiding Zimbabwe’s future amidst global crises.
She highlighted that humanity faces intersecting challenges climate change, health disparities, and geopolitical tensions while standing on the cusp of an AI revolution that could either deepen inequality or unlock unprecedented human potential.
The Minister pointed out that Zimbabwe is at a digital crossroads, aligning its National Development Strategies 1 and 2 towards Vision 2030, which aims for the country to become a prosperous, upper-middle-income society.
She underscored that technology, especially AI, is reshaping sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture, and that the real question is not “What can AI do?” but “What will we choose to do with AI?”
Mavetera outlined three key imperatives for Zimbabwe’s AI journey:
“Human-Centred AI: She stressed that AI must enhance human agency, not replace it. The government is fostering innovation through nationwide robotics programs, coding in schools, and university innovation hubs, ensuring Zimbabwean youth are creators, not just consumers, of technology,”
“Closing Digital Divides: The Minister called for urgent action to prevent digital exclusion. Initiatives include digital skills training, digital identity systems, and grassroots innovation support, all aimed at ensuring no one is left behind in the digital economy,”
“Responsible Partnerships: Emphasizing the importance of ethics and accountability, she highlighted the collaborative efforts needed to establish governance frameworks that ensure AI serves the common good. Zimbabwe welcomes partnerships with UNDP to strengthen AI governance and inclusive innovation,”
Concluding her remarks, Minister Mavetera urged stakeholders to choose inclusion, empowerment, and collaboration. She expressed gratitude to UNDP for their support and called for collective action to ensure that in the age of AI, no possibility is wasted and no one is left behind.
The launch underscores Zimbabwe’s commitment to harnessing AI for sustainable development and equity, setting a proactive example for the region and continent.