Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE digital economy in Lupane District, Matabeleland North Province is billed for major transformation, with the area set to be connected to the rest of the world through a fibre optic cable by the end of the year.
As part of a broader strategy to strengthen Zimbabwe’s digital economy, TelOne is laying fibre optic cables across the country, including the key link between Bulawayo and Lupane.
The ultimate goal is to extend the connection to Victoria Falls and Binga, and beyond, boosting connectivity and driving digital transformation across the region, further consolidating Lupane centre as a provincial capital.
“I am happy to report that we have covered around 150 kilometres of backbone fibre and we have reached Lupane. We intend to connect and light up Lupane and surrounding areas from Bulawayo as we generate more capital to deploy the rest of the link to Victoria Falls. This is a critical link as it connects Bulawayo to the tourism capital and extends connectivity into Zambia and Namibia. So we hope that by the end of the year, we will have lit Lupane,” TelOne’s managing director, Engineer Lawrence Nkala said.
The Bulawayo–Lupane–Victoria Falls link is part of a US$15 million project, of which over US$3 million has already been spent on trenching and cable laying.
The next step involves installing active transmission equipment to deliver speeds of up to 800 gigabits per second, one of the highest capacities in the country.
The project will not only improve communication in Lupane, but also open the door to economic growth, e-learning, and e-commerce opportunities.
“The availability of fast internet will drive e-commerce. Business transactions will be quicker and no network jams will be experienced in this area. We appreciate the gesture,” a community member said.
“E-learning will be enhanced, matching learners here with those in urban areas. This will also improve pass rates and link us to the rest of the world via cheaper internet,” another added.
The development will further bolster the recently adopted Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030), hinged on three key strategic imperatives: transitioning from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy to enhance competitiveness, promoting Zimbabwean cultural values and the philosophy of Unhu/Ubuntu, and leveraging Artificial Intelligence to address challenges and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities.
