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The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, Roy Chimanikire says that Zimbabwe has entered a new technological era with the launch of the country’s first local artificial intelligence compute hub, a development he described as “monumental” and a landmark for national innovation.
Speaking at the Econet AI launch , Chimanikire said the breakthrough follows five years of work by more than 100 Zimbabwean engineers who have built advanced digital solutions tailored for the country’s needs.
He said the new compute capability will allow Zimbabwe to develop and control its own AI systems using local data, instead of relying on offshore infrastructure.
“We have developed what we believe are world class Zimbabwean solutions with first class AI talent,” he said. “No single company can build this future alone. Through our partnership with Cassava Technologies, a visionary organisation enabling Africa’s AI future, we have established AI compute capabilities that are a world first and a first in Africa.”
Chimanikire said Zimbabwe’s new AI infrastructure will be powered through global partnerships with leaders in the field including NVIDIA, Google and Microsoft making advanced compute power accessible to businesses, government and innovators across the entire country.
He said the new platform will secure the sovereignty of Zimbabwean data, ensuring that national datasets remain in the country and are used to build local solutions.
“We must build our own expertise and capabilities,” he said. “This ecosystem we are creating will allow Zimbabweans to prosper not only as consumers of technology but as innovators and global competitors.”
Chimanikire also announced plans for a Zimbabwe AI Institute, to be developed in partnership with government, the national regulator Potraz and academic institutions, to expand skills development and strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem.
He outlined how the new infrastructure can unlock innovation across key sectors:
Banking & Finance – AI-driven risk assessment, fraud detection and personalised customer services
Mining – predictive maintenance, resource optimisation and improved safety
Agriculture – precision farming, crop analytics, climate forecasting and food security
Healthcare – diagnostics support, patient management and disease surveillance.
Telecommunications – improved maintenance, customer experience and operational efficiency.
Chimanikire said Econet employees are already being trained to build their own “agentic AI” tools, with every staff member expected to develop at least one internal solution.
He outlined Zimbabwe’s threestage AI development model: a foundational phase building infrastructure and talent; a scaling phase driving sector wide innovation; and a maturity phase in which Zimbabwe develops and deploys full AI applications.
“What this means for the 2030 agenda is inclusive growth, job creation, entrepreneurial opportunities and skills development,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is not waiting for the future we are building it today,” Chimanikire said. “Through Africa’s first AI compute capability and our strategic partnerships, we are proving that Zimbabwe has the capability, the talent and the vision to lead Africa’s digital transformation. The future of Zimbabwe is digital. The future is innovative. The future is now.”
The launch aligns with Zimbabwe’s national AI strategy, developed with government and anchored on the country’s digital infrastructure ambitions under the National Development Strategy 1 and 2. The milestone is supported by Econet’s partnership with Cassava Technologies, which operates fibre networks, data centres, cloud platforms and cybersecurity services across Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
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