Story by Tafara Chikumira
ZIMBABWE is accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into rural communities as part of a broader strategy to drive inclusive development, bridge the digital divide and support the country’s rural industrialisation agenda.
The initiative took centre stage as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Rural Development Day, with Government outlining plans to ensure rural communities are equipped to harness AI-driven technologies.
Speaking at a media briefing in Harare this Tuesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development, Dr Prosper Matondi said rural communities must be active participants in Zimbabwe’s digital transformation.
“We are living in the world of AI, and we are saying rural communities must not be left out. Rural development must be the in thing as the country moves towards attaining Vision 2030. Rural areas used to be difficult to penetrate, but now we have technologies to reach out to them.”
He said Government is promoting decentralisation through the establishment of processing centres in smaller towns to stimulate value addition and reduce pressure on major cities.
“All small towns must have processing centres. We want to decongest the cities. We want relevant artificial intelligence being decentralised to small towns. This will help us achieve value addition in the shortest possible time,” said Dr Matondi.
Government is also investing in research to develop new products from traditional grains, with a focus on attracting younger consumers and expanding opportunities in culinary tourism.
“We have come up with rural industrialisation efforts. We need more technologies, and the design of small-scale industries has to be area-specific. Traditional grains are now in abundance. We need to explore how we can grow culinary gastronomy.
“We used to think only in terms of sadza without considering what might appeal to the younger generation. This is being addressed as we explore healthier products, which will strengthen our value addition efforts,” he said.
The Government says the integration of AI, alongside investments in Village Business Units and rural processing plants, will strengthen local industries, improve productivity and ensure rural communities play a central role in achieving Vision 2030.
