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By Ross Moyo
Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zimbabwe Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lorreta Songola, is set to speak at the 19th COMESA Business Forum, today anchoring the most anticipated technology session of the day.
According to the programme seen by TechnoMag, Songola will join other business leaders in a session preceding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s keynote address at the Official Opening Ceremony later in the afternoon.
She will speak in Session 4 under the title ‘The Digital Backbone — Scaling AI, Data and Digital Trade Infrastructure’ [12:00 – 12:50], facilitated by Dr. Gift K. Machengete, Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
The timing is strategic. The session comes right after Session 2 on Regional Value Chains and just before the Official Opening Ceremony to be officiated by President Mnangagwa between 14:35 – 15:50.
Why Liquid, why now?
COMESA’s theme this year is “One Market in Motion – Building Seamless and Resilient Trade Systems.” The agenda is clear: efficient borders, predictable regulations, seamless movement of goods, services and businesspeople, and digital trade systems to reduce the cost of doing business.
No company embodies that digital backbone more than Liquid.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies founded by Strive Masiyiwa, operates a pan-African fibre network of over 116,000km across 25 countries, and controls more than 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s network capacity as the country’s largest fixed internet provider.
Liquid offers end-to-end digital services — managed cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, connectivity, wholesale infrastructure, and Africa Data Centres — the continent’s largest independent network of carrier- and cloud-neutral facilities.
Crucially, Liquid is now driving Zimbabwe’s AI and cybersecurity agenda. It recently signed an MOU with the Ministry of Skills Audit to deliver AI, cybersecurity and cloud training, and operates 24/7 Security Operations Centres through Liquid C2, its cybersecurity arm.
Liquid C2 was awarded Platinum Partner status by Sophos, which now commands 70 percent of Zimbabwe’s cybersecurity market.
What Songola will speak on
The session brief states: “Digital technologies are reshaping how businesses produce, trade, access finance and engage with customers across borders. This session will explore how digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and data-driven innovation can strengthen productivity, improve competitiveness and enable COMESA enterprises to participate more effectively in the regional and global economy.”
Songola will be joined in this session by Mr. Ahmad Hamwi of RINATO Space Zambia, Ms. Hope Situmbeko, Director Southern Africa, TradeMark Africa, and Mr. Wallace Tapiwa Gara of EduNova Solutions.
Expect Songola to focus on four pillars Liquid has been pushing this Cybersecurity Awareness Month:
First, AI at Scale: Her AI-powered Zim strategy with Microsoft Copilot and Cassava AI, and how AI platforms are powering operational efficiency across business, education and health.
Second, Data Sovereignty: Why African data must be stored and secured in Africa, through Liquid’s Azure Stack deployments and local cloud.
Third, Digital Trade Infrastructure: How fibre, cloud, and Secure360 — Liquid’s integrated security framework — moves businesses beyond reactive breach response to proactive intelligence and protection.
Fourth, SME Inclusion: Her recent launch of SME Bundles combining fibre, Microsoft 365, cloud backup and Liquid POS fiscalisation — turning compliance into an automatic by-product of trading. SMEs account for over 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP.
A presidential day
The COMESA Business Forum, running at the COMESA Summit venue in Harare, has a packed agenda:
08:00 – Accreditation
09:00 – 10:15: Ministerial High-Level Dialogue with Minister Nqobizitha Ndhlovu, Mauritius Junior Minister Hambyrajen Narsinghen, COMESA Assistant Secretary General Dr. Mohamed Kadah, Trade Development Bank President Admassu Tadesse, CZI CEO Sekai Kuvarika, and Coca-Cola’s Clifford Machoka.
10:45 – 12:00: From Commodities to Competitiveness
12:00 – 12:50: The Digital Backbone — Songola Session
14:35 – 15:50: Official Opening with ZimTrade CEO Allan Majuru, COMESA Business Council President Mucai Kunhiya, COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, and Keynote by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
15:50 – 17:00: Capital at Scale — De-Risking Trade and Investment.
In other words, when Songola speaks today, she speaks not just for Liquid, but for Zimbabwe’s digital economy — before the Heads of State.
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