Today, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa met with a high-level delegation from Huawei Technologies in China to advance Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda.
The discussions marked a significant step in the country’s ambition to harness artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technologies for economic growth and social development.
The talks centred on the strategic upgrade of Zimbabwe’s High Performance Computer Centre, a crucial facility for research and innovation. The planned improvements will integrate AI capabilities to boost computational power, enabling researchers and institutions to address complex challenges across key sectors, including agriculture, health, climate science, and national security.
Digital training facility to equip youth with AI skills
Beyond infrastructure, Huawei and the Zimbabwean government also explored plans to establish a digital training facility in Zimbabwe. The centre will equip young people and professionals with practical skills in AI, cloud computing and other emerging technologies.
Officials said the goal is to prepare the workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution while ensuring that technological advances translate into broad-based national development.
The initiative aims to create a talent pipeline supporting Zimbabwe’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy by embedding AI into education and training.
The government has repeatedly stressed that empowering youth with digital skills is central to unlocking innovation and building long-term competitiveness.
Huawei’s global expertise to support Zimbabwe’s ambitions
Huawei, founded in 1987, is one of the world’s leading providers of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices. With around 208,000 employees worldwide, the company operates in over 170 countries, serving over three billion people.
In 2024, Huawei worked with global carriers to advance the rollout of 5.5G technology, launching the world’s first 5.5G Innovation Centre in the Middle East while supporting the large-scale adoption of next-generation connectivity in China.
The company has also pursued innovations in artificial intelligence, developing systems that support a wide range of AI models and applications across industries.
For Zimbabwe, this partnership reflects the government’s determination to align with international technology leaders while adapting global innovations to local needs. Officials noted that the collaboration is expected to accelerate the digital economy by extending the benefits of AI beyond ICT to other sectors of society.
Leapfrogging into the future
By integrating AI into national infrastructure and establishing training facilities, Zimbabwe is positioning itself to leapfrog stages of technological development. This approach ties into the Second Republic’s broader commitment to modernisation and economic reform, which focuses on achieving inclusive growth, technological sovereignty, and global competitiveness.
The meeting between President Mnangagwa and Huawei’s delegation signals both sides’ intent to deepen cooperation. As discussions progress, the outcomes are expected to shape not only Zimbabwe’s digital transformation but also its role in Africa’s broader push toward AI-driven development.