Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Zimbabwe

30/05/2026

Africa Strengthens Common Position Ahead of ITU PP-26 as Victoria Falls Meeting Concludes

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – The five-day Regional Development Forum for Africa 2026 (RDF-AFR 2026) and the Second African Preparatory Meeting (APM2) for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26) concluded in Victoria Falls, with African nations reaffirming their commitment to a unified continental position on key digital development issues.

Speaking on behalf of Zimbabwe at the close of the meeting, Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Dr. Gift Machengete, underscored the importance of Africa presenting a common voice at the forthcoming ITU Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled for Doha, Qatar.

Delegates from across the continent deliberated on a broad range of issues critical to Africa’s digital future, including online child protection, universal and meaningful connectivity, cybersecurity, digital transformation, satellite technologies and equitable access to digital services.

Working groups developed and refined common African proposals covering emerging and strategic areas such as Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Over-the-Top (OTT) services, cybersecurity incident response mechanisms, Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) services and measures to curb the proliferation of non-standard communication devices.

The meeting also agreed on leadership roles for several African countries, which will spearhead key resolutions and proposals as preparations for PP-26 gather momentum.

The outcomes of the Victoria Falls meetings are expected to strengthen Africa’s influence in global digital governance discussions and ensure that the continent’s priorities are effectively represented during negotiations in Doha.

27/05/2026

Zimbabwe Calls for Africa to Shape Global Digital Governance at ITU PP-26 Preparatory Meeting

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – 27 May 2026

Zimbabwe has urged Africa to rise with one voice and shape the future of global digital governance, declaring that the continent must no longer stand at the edge of international decision-making tables, but must sit boldly at the centre of conversations defining the digital future of humanity.

Against the thunderous backdrop of the majestic Victoria Falls; a natural wonder whose roaring waters have for centuries symbolised strength, unity and resilience. African leaders, policymakers and telecommunications experts gathered in Zimbabwe today for the 2nd Africa Preparatory Meeting ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (PP-26) scheduled for Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November 2026.

Opening the high-level meeting, Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Tatenda A. Mavetera, represented by Deputy Minister Hon. Dingimuzi Phuti, delivered a powerful message calling for Africa to become an architect, rather than a spectator in shaping global digital policies. She said the time had come for Africa to move from the margins of technological governance and take its rightful place as a co-author of the world’s digital future.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, oversees global telecommunications and information communication technologies. It coordinates international telecommunication networks, allocates radio-frequency spectrum, manages satellite orbits and develops global technical standards.
Its Plenipotentiary Conference, held every four years, is the organisation’s supreme decision-making body. During the Doha conference, Member States will elect the ITU’s senior leadership, members of the ITU Council and the Radio Regulations Board, while also determining the organisation’s strategic and financial roadmap for the 2028–2031 period.

Welcoming delegates to Zimbabwe’s tourism capital, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Hon. Richard Moyo, encouraged participants to fully engage in the deliberations while experiencing the warmth and beauty of Victoria Falls.
As the meeting gathered momentum, Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Dr Gift K. Machengete, delivered an impassioned appeal for African solidarity.

Using imagery as striking as the Falls themselves, Dr Machengete said African nations must “clench their fingers into one fist” if they are to effectively advance continental interests within the ITU and other global platforms.

He envisioned an Africa fully represented across all ITU structures and urged Member States to allow their collective voice to echo across the world “like the thunder of Mosi-oa-Tunya.”
Representing the ITU, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, applauded the unity already being demonstrated by African states. He challenged delegates to approach the discussions with professionalism and a solutions-oriented mindset capable of addressing the continent’s pressing digital challenges.

Dr Zavazava emphasised that Africa must not only identify problems but must also generate innovative solutions that contribute to the advancement of the global digital ecosystem.
ATU Secretary-General Mr. John Omo also stressed the importance of collaboration and continental cohesion, saying Africa’s strength lies in unity and coordinated action.
Later, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Beaullar Chirume, expressed excitement over the progress Africa has made in expanding digital connectivity and bridging technological divides.

She said Zimbabwe was honoured to host such a strategic gathering and called on delegates to commit themselves to practical policies that promote affordable connectivity, digital sovereignty and the protection of children online.

In her keynote address, Hon. Mavetera outlined three major priorities that African states should focus on during the preparatory meeting: developing common African positions on key PP-26 agenda items, building strategic alliances with regional and global partners, and ensuring the effective implementation of agreed resolutions.

In a symbolic gesture aimed at immortalising the spirit of African unity emerging from the gathering, she proposed that the final resolutions of the meeting be known as the “Victoria Falls Commitment to Digital Sovereignty and Inclusion.”

As deliberations continue beneath the mist and roar of one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders, the continent appears determined to ensure that when the world gathers in Doha later this year, Africa will not merely attend but it will lead, influence and help shape the future of global digital transformation.

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) met with The Honourable Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera, MP, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, and Dr Beaullar Chirume, Permanent Secretary, for discussions on strengthening cooperation and advancing shared priorities in ICT and digital transformation. Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Zimbabwe

26/05/2026

25 May 2026 | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe officially opened the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Regional Development Forum for Africa (ITU RDF-AFR 2026) in Victoria Falls on Monday, with the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Anastacia Mavetera, calling for a united continental approach toward achieving universal, meaningful and affordable digital connectivity across Africa.

Delegates from across the continent and beyond gathered at the Cresta Sprayview Hotel for the high-level forum, which marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s growing role in shaping Africa’s digital transformation agenda. The event brought together ministers, regulators, telecommunications executives, development partners, ICT experts and policymakers to deliberate on the future of digital development in Africa.

The official opening ceremony was presided over by Hon. Mavetera, who challenged African nations to urgently confront the continent’s widening digital divide, warning that millions of Africans remain excluded from opportunities within the global digital economy. Addressing delegates during the opening ceremony, the Minister described the forum as “a family gathering” where African nations must collectively determine their digital future.

“It is a joy to welcome you to Zimbabwe, here at Victoria Falls. For centuries, the Mosi-oa-Tunya has roared not merely as water, but as a voice — a voice that has called Africa together,” she said.
The two-day forum, convened by the Government of Zimbabwe in partnership with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is being held under the theme: “Universal, meaningful and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future.”

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North Province, Honourable Richard Moyo, welcomed delegates to the province and expressed pride in hosting such a strategic continental gathering in Victoria Falls. He encouraged participants to engage in constructive and developmental discussions while enjoying the serenity and beauty of the majestic Victoria Falls, one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations.

POTRAZ Director General, Dr. Gift Kallisto Machengete, also addressed delegates and emphasized the importance of developing African-centered artificial intelligence systems capable of supporting local languages and addressing African realities. Dr. Machengete called on African innovators and coders to localize and contextualize AI technologies while ensuring that African data remains protected and stored within the continent’s boundaries.

The Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Mr. John Omo, also delivered remarks, stressing the need for stronger regional collaboration in expanding digital access and innovation across Africa.

Meanwhile, the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, encouraged delegates to engage in meaningful discussions aimed at using ICTs to solve both local and global challenges affecting African communities.

Secretary for ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr. Beullah Chirume, delivered introductory remarks before officially inviting the Guest of Honour to address the forum.

In her keynote address, Hon. Mavetera underscored the importance of collective action in closing Africa’s connectivity gap and building a digitally inclusive future. She urged African governments, regulators and private sector players to work together in expanding access to infrastructure, reducing the cost of connectivity, promoting digital literacy and strengthening digital sovereignty across the continent.

In her closing remarks, the Minister called on African nations to act decisively in preparing future generations for a digitally empowered continent.

“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today,” she said.

Hon. Mavetera officially declared the 2026 ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa open and urged delegates to embrace collaboration, innovation and regional integration in advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda.

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Dingumuzi Phuti, delivered the closing remarks at the official opening ceremony.

The ITU RDF-AFR 2026 continues in Victoria Falls until Tuesday and is expected to shape Africa’s digital development priorities for the next four years through policy dialogue, strategic partnerships and regional cooperation initiatives.

19/05/2026

16/05/2026

Bulawayo came alive yesterday as more than 1,500 students from across Bulawayo and the Matabeleland provinces gathered at the National University of Science and Technology to commemorate International Girls in ICT Day, in a vibrant celebration of innovation, technology and the limitless potential of young women.

Held under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future,” the event transformed the university into a hub of inspiration, ambition and digital creativity, as girls were encouraged to take their place at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s technological revolution.

International Girls in ICT Day is a global initiative that seeks to inspire girls and young women to pursue studies and careers in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Celebrated annually around the world, the initiative aims to close the gender gap in technology by exposing young women to opportunities in digital innovation, science and emerging technologies.

After the Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon D Phuthi together with other dignatries at the event had finished a tour of the exhibitions stands Hon Tatenda Mavetera, ICT Minister, stood to address delagates and passionately called for girls to seize opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Hon. Mavetera said empowering girls in ICT was not only vital for gender equality, but also essential for Zimbabwe’s economic growth, innovation and national development. She urged young women to boldly pursue careers in technology, emphasizing that the future of the digital economy must be shaped by inclusive participation.

“The digital future belongs to those who dare to innovate,” she said, encouraging students to become creators of technology-driven solutions capable of transforming communities and industries.

Throughout the day, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and optimism as young girls envisioned futures as software developers, engineers, data scientists and tech entrepreneurs.

As Zimbabwe continues advancing towards a digital economy, the celebrations underscored the growing importance of ensuring that girls are not left behind, but are empowered to lead, innovate and shape the technologies of the future.