Story by Tanyaradzwa Magamu
TECHNOLOGY is playing a central role in Zimbabwe’s national development agenda, with Government identifying digital transformation as a key pillar in achieving Vision 2030 and implementing the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Authorities say reliable information and communication technology (ICT) statistics are essential for shaping policies that promote digital inclusion and ensure equitable access to digital services.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 ICT Access by Households and Use by Individuals Survey Report in Harare this Tuesday, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Director General Dr Gift Machengete said the findings will help ensure that no community is left behind.
“The net effect for us is to fulfil our mandate. As you are aware, our mandate is to ensure that no one and no place are left behind in terms of ICT access and usage. We believe this is the pathway towards digitising the economy,” he said.
The survey, conducted jointly by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and POTRAZ, found continued growth in mobile phone ownership and household internet access, while the use of traditional postal services continued to decline as more Zimbabweans embraced digital platforms.
ZIMSTAT Director General Mr Tafadzwa Bandama said the survey provides critical data to support evidence-based policymaking.
“We collaborated with POTRAZ to carry out this survey on ICT usage by households. The key findings show that the use of postal services has declined as more people embrace digital services. Ownership of mobile phones has increased, while household internet access has also improved. Bulawayo recorded 98 percent internet access, while Manicaland recorded 61.6 percent, largely due to its terrain,” he said.
The report is expected to guide Government, regulators, industry players and development partners in making evidence-based decisions to accelerate digital inclusion and narrow the country’s connectivity gap.
