By 
By Ross Moyo
NetOne has moved its sustainability agenda beyond PR and into infrastructure, deploying a simultaneous 4-city environmental program this Friday as part of a broader ESG strategy tied to NDS2 and Vision 2030 digital goals.
The mobile operator, alongside ICT sector players ZARnet, TelOne, Zimpost and POTRAZ, anchored the main event at TelOne HQ in Harare, while rolling out coordinated teams in Masvingo, Mutare and Chitungwiza.
FROM CLEAN-UP TO TECH-ENABLED ESG
For NetOne, the monthly exercise observed since 2021 is now being integrated into a 2030 sustainability roadmap that links environmental management to network resilience and smart city planning.
Acting PR Manager Thamsanqa Luphahla, standing in for Ernest Magadzire, said the focus has shifted.
“Connectivity and a clean operating environment are two sides of the same coin. Flooded ducts, blocked drainage and uncollected waste directly affect our base stations, fibre routes and last-mile infrastructure,” Luphahla said.
“We are not just picking up litter. We are protecting digital infrastructure that keeps Zimbabwe online.”
NATIONWIDE FOOTPRINT, DATA-DRIVEN IMPACT
The multi-city deployment is deliberate, Luphahla noted, to match NetOne’s network footprint and test decentralized ESG execution.
“This is not a Harare affair; it is a Zimbabwe affair. From Gweru to Mutare, from Chitungwiza to the capital, we are building operational models that can be replicated across all provinces where we have base stations and customers,” he said.
The company said teams worked with local councils, EMA and resident associations to map waste hotspots that intersect with telecoms infrastructure — data that will feed into future network maintenance planning.
ALIGNING WITH NDS2, VISION 2030 AND DIGITAL ECONOMY TARGETS
NetOne framed the program as part of its contribution to NDS2 climate resilience goals and the Digital Economy Strategy.
Key pillars now include:
– Waste-to-data: Mapping illegal dumpsites near network assets to reduce vandalism and downtime
– Community digital literacy: Scaling outreach in schools around environmental tech and e-waste recycling
– Green operations: Targeting energy efficiency at base stations and solarization as part of 2030 targets
“Giving back to communities is embedded in our DNA, but we are also building a business case. A resilient environment means fewer network outages, lower opex, and better service for the 5 million+ subscribers who depend on us,” Luphahla said.
He added that NetOne supports President Mnangagwa’s institutionalization of national programs, but stressed that corporates must translate policy into measurable tech and business outcomes.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR TECH
With Zimbabwe pushing for an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, telcos are under pressure to ensure infrastructure can withstand climate shocks while expanding coverage.
Analysts note that ESG is fast becoming a license-to-operate issue for ICT firms seeking investment and spectrum. NetOne’s approach signals a shift from once-off CSR to operationalized sustainability linked to network KPIs.
As Luphahla put it: “The future we are building is digital first. That future must also be clean, resilient and bankable.”
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