The appointment of Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Tatenda Mavetera, to the inaugural Africa Artificial Intelligence Council is a development that deserves more than a passing headline. It is a strategic masterstroke that formally places Zimbabwe at the continent’s most important technological conversation and validates the nation’s steady, determined march toward becoming a regional tech force.

For too long, narratives about Africa’s digital revolution have been centred elsewhere. This appointment decisively shifts that narrative. It was not a gift but a prize won through demonstrated effort. Minister Tatenda Mavetera’s selection followed a rigorous, continent-wide process by #SmartAfrica and its partners, who sifted through over 400 applicants. Zimbabwe earned this seat. The recent Cabinet approval of a National AI Strategy provided the crucial qualifying credential, proving the country is not just talking about the future but actively building its policy foundations.

The council’s mandate—to guide Africa on AI infrastructure, data, talent, and investment—is where the real opportunity lies. This is not a ceremonial role. It is a position of influence within a body backed by 42 African heads of state and chaired by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. From this vantage point, Zimbabwe can directly shape the ethical and regulatory frameworks that will govern the continent’s digital economy, ensuring they work for nations like ours. It provides a direct channel to global tech giants and funding institutions, a powerful signal to investors that Zimbabwe is open for serious, high-tech business.

Critically, this aligns perfectly with the vision of a Zimbabwean tech hub. Ambition requires not just internal hustle but external recognition and partnerships. Minister Mavetera’s seat at this table provides both. It allows Zimbabwe to leverage its recognised strengths, such as in digital agriculture, into broader AI innovation. However, the hard work must now intensify. The nation must accelerate the implementation of its AI strategy, double down on cultivating a tech-savvy workforce, and create the enabling environment that turns this moment of prestige into a sustained engine of growth.

In essence, this appointment is a powerful statement. It tells the world that Zimbabwe is ready to co-author Africa’s digital future. The task now is to ensure the next chapters written are of homegrown innovation, investment, and tangible economic transformation. The spotlight is on; the platform is secured. The Minister must now perform. And she will.

#WomenInTech

#WomenInLeadership #AfricaTech

#AIStrategy