The Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan

The Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan is a comprehensive national strategy developed by the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services to transform Zimbabwe into a digitally inclusive, knowledge-based, and globally integrated economy by 2030. The plan outlines how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will be deployed across sectors to achieve socioeconomic transformation. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the plan:

The foundation of the master plan

At its core, the plan is built on three foundational platforms:

1. Policy, regulation and standards – Creating a harmonised legal and policy environment that promotes fair competition, consumer protection, and alignment with regional standards.
2. Secure and shared infrastructure – Developing robust, secure, and reliable ICT infrastructure (fiber optics, mobile networks, electricity, roads).
3. Skills, capacity development, and content development – Leveraging Zimbabwe’s high literacy to become a hub for software and hardware innovation, promoting digital literacy and local content creation.

There is also a strong focus on confidence and cybersecurity, including legislative frameworks, emergency response teams, public-private partnerships, and international cooperation.

Key strategic pillars (smart sectors)

The plan is sector-based, introducing eight key Smart Pillars, each with its own objectives and benefits:

• Smart government: Digitizing public service delivery, improving governance, resource management, and fostering citizen participation.
• Smart education: Enhancing learning through ICTs in schools and higher institutions, supporting e-learning, and building a skilled ICT workforce.
• Smart cities: Developing sustainable urban environments with integrated infrastructure (electricity, water, transport, waste), data-driven governance, and citizen-centric services.
• Smart agriculture: Using ICTs to increase productivity and efficiency across the agricultural value chain—from pre-cultivation to post-harvest.
• Smart health: Establishing e-health systems, improving health service access and quality, and integrating digital records and insurance claim systems.
• Smart transport: Implementing Intelligent Transport Systems to reduce congestion, improve safety, and modernise traffic and logistics management.
• Smart trade/commerce: Creating a business-friendly environment with e-commerce platforms, improving market access and integrating value chains.
• Smart tourism: Promoting digital platforms to enhance visibility and accessibility of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, increasing revenue and improving the country’s image.

Implementation strategy

The rollout of Smart Zimbabwe 2030 is structured in three phases:

Phase 1 (2018–2020): Focused on groundwork:

• Building infrastructure (fiber optics, mobile networks)
• Creating cybersecurity frameworks
• Digitizing government services
• Establishing ICT assembly plants and data centers
• Launching capacity-building programs

Phase 2: Launch of specific sector programs including:

• Smart Government
• Smart Education
• Smart Agriculture
• Smart Health

Phase 3: Expansion to include:

• Smart Energy and Grid
• Smart Cities and Transport
• Smart Local Government
• Smart Trade, Mining, and Borders

Institutional framework

The Master Plan is supported by a multistakeholder institutional setup that includes:

• The Ministry of ICT as the central coordinating body
• A converged regulatory authority
• ICT Innovation Hubs for skills and content development
• The National ICT Advisory Committee for strategic guidance
• A National Cybersecurity Agency
• Development partners and private sector stakeholders

Expected outcomes

The plan envisions three major outcomes:

• Digital Government: Efficient, transparent, and responsive governance through digitization.
• Digital Economy: A tech-driven economy with increased productivity, global competitiveness, job creation, and GDP growth.
• Digital Society: A society that is digitally literate, connected, and inclusive, benefiting from improved access to services and economic opportunities.