🇿🇼ZimbabweSouthern Africa
Zimbabwe government supports Econet AI launch for digital economy growth
via NewsDay Zimbabwe6 min read
The Zimbabwean government has endorsed the launch of Econet AI, an artificial intelligence unit by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe through its parent company Cassava Technologies. The initiative, unveiled in Harare, aligns with Zimbabwe's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026–2030 to transform the economy through AI. ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera stated that this development positions Zimbabwe as a producer, not just a consumer, of AI technologies. The government has established governance frameworks, including an AI Strategy Implementation Office and a National Digital Regulatory Committee, to ensure ethical AI adoption. Econet AI aims to provide local businesses with access to advanced AI tools and computing power, fostering participation in the global digital economy. Cassava Technologies has partnered with global tech firms like NVIDIA, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic to facilitate AI applications across various sectors. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe chief executive Douglas Mboweni highlighted the company's existing use of AI for network fault detection and customer support. The African Development Bank estimates AI could contribute up to US$1 trillion to Africa's GDP by 2035.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
Must ReadZimbabwe's medicinal cannabis industry is advancing from cultivation to pharmaceutical manufacturing, with Ivory Medical's new facility in Headlands now producing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients APIs. This development signifies a move towards local value addition, reducing reliance on raw material exports. Fortune Chagonda, Ivory Medical's quality control manager, stated that the plant adheres to strict international standards and aims to build a structured domestic supply chain. The company sources biomass from licensed local farmers, promoting broader participation while ensuring compliance. Chagonda emphasized that the sector's true value lies in processing and refinement to produce APIs that meet global pharmaceutical requirements, rather than just cultivation. He also noted that infrastructure investment is crucial for competitiveness in this emerging industry. Zimbabwe legalized medicinal cannabis production in 2018, and the emergence of processing facilities is expected to accelerate regulatory reforms and expand licensing frameworks. Local API production is anticipated to decrease the country's pharmaceutical import bill and conserve foreign currency, strengthening the entire value chain.
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Must ReadInternal tensions within Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party are highlighted as the youth league has reportedly criticized a donation made by Chivayo. This development comes as the party faces various challenges, including economic issues and political maneuvering. The article also touches on other national news such as nurses announcing a three-day protest, a court battle over CAB3 hearings, and foreign military attachés touring ARDA projects, praising Zimbabwe's agricultural efforts. Additionally, the Grain Marketing Board GMB has started paying farmers outstanding arrears for grain deliveries. The country is also preparing for the debut of a gold-backed Exchange Traded Fund ETF on the VFEX, managed by First Mutual Wealth Management Private Limited. Other reports indicate political tensions leading to violence and forced evictions at grasslands plots, and power outages and raw material shortages affecting ART operations, with the manufacturer's exports and paper divisions seeing volume declines in the third quarter to June 2022. Vice President Chiwenga has called for industrial revival to protect the economy from global shocks, while discussions continue on Zimbabwe's lithium economy and the impact of illicit drugs fueling violence in rural mining areas.