Story by Puleni Siampepu
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Zimbabwe’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem by identifying and addressing existing gaps to ensure the development of AI technologies aligns with the country’s socio-economic priorities.
The commitment emerged at the close of the Artificial Intelligence Transformation Summit held in Masvingo on Wednesday under the theme, “AI for Innovation, Policy and Inclusive National Development.”
Stakeholders at the summit agreed that artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance productivity across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, mining, academia and industry.
Africa University Vice Chancellor, Professor Engineer Tarlon Garikai said AI can improve decision-making and operational efficiency in agriculture through advanced monitoring and diagnostic technologies.
“Our economy is mainly based on agriculture and mining, so artificial intelligence plays a major role in aiding decision-making. Imagine using cameras at dip tanks to identify lumpy skin disease without the presence of a veterinary doctor. AI can detect animals affected by the disease. It is also possible to identify aphids on tomato crops using machine vision, enabling farmers to detect changes in colour and respond quickly,” he said.
World Federation of Engineers Chairperson, Engineer Martin Manuhwa said the technology can play a critical role in advancing Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
“It supports the implementation of NDS1 and NDS2 by boosting productivity across the entire value chain in mining, agriculture, academia and industry. With artificial intelligence, Zimbabwe can leapfrog many nations and realise its developmental aspirations,” he said.
NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer, Raphael Mushanawani highlighted AI’s potential to streamline operations and improve efficiency across organisations.
“It will improve efficiency in organisations where processes that previously took a long time can now be automated, with responses provided instantly through artificial intelligence,” he said.
Masvingo Provincial Director for Infrastructure Development, Douglas Chimhande, said Government remains committed to positioning Zimbabwe to benefit from AI-driven innovation.
“For Zimbabwe, artificial intelligence presents enormous opportunities to modernise our economy, increase productivity, create employment opportunities, stimulate innovation and improve both private and public sector institutions,” he said.
Stakeholders noted that AI-powered solutions could strengthen food security, enhance climate resilience, expand financial inclusion and create new opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
The summit comes as Zimbabwe continues to explore emerging technologies as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth and promote inclusive national development.
