Story by ZBC Reporter
SPEAKER of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has engaged with leading Japanese technology companies and development partner Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to explore opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) integration, digital transformation, and sustainable development in Zimbabwe.
During high-level discussions in Tokyo, Speaker Mudenda and his delegation met with representatives from SORA Technology and Nippon Electric Company (NEC), in an interface facilitated by Ms Fumio Adachi, Head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Investment and Trade Promotion Office (ITPO) Tokyo.
Ms Adachi welcomed Zimbabwe’s strong participation at the 2025 Osaka Expo, noting in particular the contribution of Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Honourable Frederick Shava, who presented at one of the UNIDO ITPO side events.
She explained UNIDO’s mission of promoting sustainable economic development through technology transfer, highlighting its Sustainable Technology Promotion Platform (STePP), which links over 140 Japanese companies with developing countries in areas such as health, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and environmental management.
SORA Technology’s Chief Mosquito Officer, Mr Masahiro Yamaguchi, showcased how the company is using drone technologies to combat malaria across Africa. The system identifies high-risk water bodies, facilitates spraying, and develops hazard maps for urban planning.
The approach has significantly reduced malaria incidences while lowering the cost of preventive measures. NEC’s representative, Mr Kazuhiko Miyawaki, presented the company’s wide-ranging initiatives across 53 African countries, including Zimbabwe. With headquarters in South Africa, NEC’s projects span agriculture, health, security, digital identification, e-voucher platforms, and cybersecurity. He explained how NEC’s agricultural platforms are providing farmers with climate-smart data to guide crop selection, planting decisions, and yield monitoring.
Commending both companies, Speaker Mudenda expressed Zimbabwe’s keen interest in adopting such AI-driven solutions, particularly in malaria eradication and smart agriculture. He stressed the importance of linking technology transfer to local universities to ensure sustainability, and tasked Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Stewart Nyakotyo, to follow up on possible areas of cooperation.
Speaker Mudenda and his delegation also met with the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) at its Tokyo headquarters. The discussions were led by Dr Kitaoka Shinichi, former JICA President and Special Advisor, who praised Zimbabwe’s youthful population and high literacy rate as key assets for socio-economic development. Dr Shinichi emphasised JICA’s philosophy of empowering developing countries through knowledge transfer rather than aid dependency, highlighting the Japanese concept of Kaizen, a bottom-up, continuous improvement model, as a guiding principle for sustainable growth.
In response, Speaker Mudenda highlighted Zimbabwe’s vast mineral endowments along the Great Dyke and underscored the importance of Japanese investment in exploration and beneficiation technologies.
Advocate Mudenda commended Japan’s commitment to supporting Africa’s digital and economic transformation, noting that Zimbabwe is determined to embrace economic diplomacy, foster smart agriculture, and harness AI for inclusive growth.
