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The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has intensified its nationwide drive to expand digital connectivity through the Tower Relocation Program (TRP), a strategic initiative aimed at bridging the rural-urban connectivity gap.
The program, which involves relocating and commissioning mobile network towers into underserved communities, is already transforming the communication landscape in remote districts. Areas such as Mazowe, Nyanga, Zaka, Mt. Darwin, and Mberengwa are among the beneficiaries of towers that have been successfully relocated and switched on.
By Elleanor Chard
Potraz officials explained that the TRP is designed to maximize infrastructure efficiency by taking towers from areas of redundancy and redeploying them where coverage is weak or non-existent. The move has seen thousands of villagers gaining reliable access to mobile networks, internet services, and mobile money platforms for the first time.
“Connectivity is no longer a luxury — it is a fundamental enabler of development. Through the Tower Relocation Program, we are ensuring that even the most remote communities are included in Zimbabwe’s digital future,” said the Potraz Director General Gift Machengete.
The rollout is being supported by mobile network operators including Econet, NetOne, and Telecel, who are managing the relocated sites. This collaborative effort underscores the shared commitment to closing Zimbabwe’s digital divide.
In districts such as Zaka and Nyanga, relocated towers are already making a measurable impact farmers can now check market prices online, schools are accessing e-learning platforms, and local businesses are conducting transactions via mobile money with greater ease.
For local communities, the changes are visible in their daily lives. In Nyanga, one villager, Mrs. Chikasha, described the new tower as a “lifeline.”
“Before the tower came, we would walk long distances just to make a simple phone call. Now we can talk to our relatives, send money, and even check farming information without leaving the village. Life has become easier and safer for us,” she said.
The TRP is not just about voice and data coverage, but about unlocking socio-economic growth in rural Zimbabwe. By bringing more citizens into the digital economy, Potraz is laying the groundwork for inclusive national development.
Potraz has reaffirmed that this is only the beginning of a larger vision: a Zimbabwe where every citizen, regardless of location, has equal access to modern communication technologies.
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