Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026 - 2030

This is an adopted but non-binding national strategy, not legislation. It is led by Zimbabwe's Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services and was digitally launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Parliament in Harare on 13 March 2026; the recorded dates reflect that launch, not legislative enactment. The strategy sets a national framework to harness AI for inclusive growth, innovation and digital sovereignty, aligned with Vision 2030, and explicitly frames AI adoption around local values and the Ubuntu philosophy while recognising risks such as inequality, skills shortages, fragmented data systems, infrastructure gaps and weak governance. It is organised around six strategic pillars: AI Talent and Capacity Development; AI Infrastructure and Computational Sovereignty; AI Adoption and Service Transformation; AI Governance, Ethics and Regulatory Framework; AI Research, Development and Innovation; and Strategic International Collaboration and Diplomacy. Target sectors include agriculture, mining, healthcare, education, financial services, manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy, public services, environment and climate resilience, and defence and security, with particular attention to including rural communities, women, youth and SMEs. Governance and oversight are to be delivered through defined mechanisms: a National AI Council providing strategic direction, an AI Strategy Implementation Office responsible for day-to-day coordination, execution and monitoring, and sector-specific Technical Working Groups. A dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework sets indicators, targets and reporting processes, supported by public dashboards and periodic reviews. Ethical commitments to human dignity, privacy, transparency, inclusivity, safety and accountability are integrated throughout. The strategy was developed through a multi-stakeholder process involving the Office of the President and Cabinet, government ministries, academia, the private sector, civil society, the diaspora and development partners, and was informed by UNESCO's AI Readiness Assessment and national consultations held in Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo. As a strategy it anticipates follow-up work on an AI governance, ethics and regulatory framework, signalling future regulation rather than creating binding obligations now.

1. 1Adopted non-binding national AI strategy launched by the President on 13 March 2026; led by the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services
2. 2Six strategic pillars: Talent and Capacity Development; Infrastructure and Computational Sovereignty; Adoption and Service Transformation; Governance, Ethics and Regulatory Framework; Research, Development and Innovation; and International Collaboration and Diplomacy
3. 3Aligns AI adoption with Vision 2030, local values and the Ubuntu philosophy
4. 4Governance via a National AI Council, an AI Strategy Implementation Office and sector-specific Technical Working Groups
5. 5Dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with indicators, public dashboards and periodic reviews
6. 6Target sectors include agriculture, mining, health, education, finance, manufacturing, transport, energy, public services, climate resilience and defence
7. 7Embedded ethical commitments to human dignity, privacy, transparency, inclusivity, safety and accountability
8. 8Signals a future AI governance, ethics and regulatory framework as follow-up