Story by Farai Gwaze
THE Government is developing a dedicated programme to enable Zimbabwean digital content creators to monetise their work online, as part of efforts to grow the digital economy under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, said her ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to address long-standing barriers that have prevented local creators from earning revenue from global digital platforms.
Speaking on the initiative, Minister Mavetera confirmed that government has already initiated engagements with major international technology companies, including Google and Meta, to explore monetisation models suited to the Zimbabwean market.
“We have had a lot of conversations with the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, where we have our local digital content creators wanting to also monetise their content. We have engaged the likes of Google and the likes of Meta, to find ways for our own local content creators to monetise their content. There have been limitations to that, and discussions are ongoing.”
She said the envisaged programme will provide a structured framework through which local creators can generate income, either through existing global platforms or a dedicated monetisation platform designed specifically for Zimbabwe.
“We believe that we will have a programme dedicated to the monetisation of local content creators, having at least a platform where they can monetise the content they have,” she said.
The move comes amid rapid growth in Zimbabwe’s digital content space, where creators across social media, video streaming, music, education and online publishing have struggled to access revenue streams available to their counterparts in other countries.
Government officials say unlocking monetisation opportunities for local creators is key to job creation, youth empowerment and innovation, while also strengthening Zimbabwe’s participation in the global digital economy.
The initiative aligns with NDS2’s broader objectives of leveraging technology to drive inclusive economic growth, promote innovation and ensure that emerging sectors contribute meaningfully to national development.
Once implemented, the programme is expected to provide new income opportunities for content creators, positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive player in the digital content economy.
