ZIMBABWE’S digital transformation took a significant leap forward on Wednesday as the ICT, Postal and Courier Services ministry presided over a landmark partnership between NetOne and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), aimed at evolving the nation into an AI-enabled “smart” tourism destination.
The collaboration, anchored on the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2) and Vision 2030, seeks to modernise a sector that already contributes over 15% to Zimbabwe’s GDP.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ICT, Postal and Courier Services minister Tatenda Mavetera, represented by permanent secretary Beaullah Chirume, emphasised that the partnership is not merely about connectivity, but also about building a national data ecosystem.
She highlighted that the recent launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy by President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be integrated into tourism to drive “intelligent” public service.
“We are selling an experience,” Mavetera noted in her address.
“That experience includes telecoms, the beds tourists sleep in and the ambience of the rooms.
“We must convince tourists through augmented virtual reality and digital maps that Zimbabwe is the destination of choice.”
The partnership saw a substantial investment in ZTA’s operational capacity.
- SanganaiHlanganani Expo dates set
- Govt challenges youths to participate in tourism
- High Court throws out ex-NetOne boss application
- TelOne MD confident after forex-indexed product launch
Keep Reading
While initial reports highlighted a general handover of equipment, the speech confirmed a significant bulk delivery.
NetOne donated 50 laptops and 35 printers.
In a surprise move, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe contributed an additional 20 laptops to ensure ZTA is fully equipped for a digital inspectorate.
This hardware is intended to move the ZTA towards a fully digital, intelligence-led institution, utilising digitised inspections and real-time operational visibility.
The ICT ministry challenged the tourism sector to move beyond following global trends and instead begin innovating solutions that the rest of the world can replicate.
“The right decision was made today because the Ministry of Tourism was the top performer in the recent presidential awards,” the minister said, acknowledging ZTA chief executive officer George Manyaya and board chair Farai Chimba.
“We need to look intelligent to our tourists. We don’t want to be left behind.”
The government intends to use this tourism-ICT collaboration as a strategic template for other vital sectors, including agriculture, health and mining.
By leveraging NetOne’s infrastructure, now under the Mutapa Investment Fund and ZTA’s market reach, authorities aim to create a data-driven government ecosystem that enhances transparency and efficiency for international visitors.
The event was attended by leadership from both organisations, including NetOne Financial Service general manager Joseph Machiva and ZTA board members, signalling a unified front in Zimbabwe’s journey towards an upper-middle-income society.
