Zimbabwe opens first rebranded digital centre

imbabwe’s government has opened the country’s first rebranded Digital Centre in Tshelanyemba, Matabeleland South, describing it as a milestone in connecting rural communities to the digital economy. Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the launch signaled a shift from community information hubs to fully-fledged digital empowerment centres that would anchor growth in education, healthcare, agriculture, and business. “It is not just a building with computers. It is an engine of growth, a platform for innovation, and a bridge to opportunities that were once far from reach,” she told the gathering. “The rebranding from Community Information Centres to Digital Centres is a change of vision, a change of purpose, and a reflection of the journey our country is on under the leadership of His Excellency, President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.” The Minister said the new model was aligned with Vision 2030, the government’s strategy to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy within five years. “Vision 2030 is not just a slogan; it is a roadmap. To achieve it, we need to ensure that every community, whether rural or urban, is digitally connected, digitally skilled, and digitally empowered,” she said. She added that the Tshelanyemba facility would serve as a launchpad for flagship initiatives such as the Digital Skills Ambassadors Program, designed to train young people to spread digital literacy across the provinces, and the 1.5 Million Coders Program, which aims to prepare youth for jobs in software development and digital entrepreneurship. “Coding is the language of the future,” she said. “Through this program, we want Zimbabwean youth to design websites, create mobile applications, and develop home-grown digital solutions. The Tshelanyemba Digital Centre will give them the internet, the equipment, and the mentorship they need to succeed.” Beyond training, Mavetera stressed the practical impact of the centre on households. “Local entrepreneurs will use it to market their products. Farmers will use it to check prices and sell produce. Students will use it to study. Families will use it to access government services without travelling to towns. This is a development that touches every household,” she said. Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Director General Gift Machengete said the Tshelanyemba centre was part of a nationwide rollout to extend digital access to remote areas through the Universal Service Fund. “Today we celebrate more than a building with computers and connectivity—we celebrate a practical step toward inclusive development, where every learner, every health worker, every farmer, every entrepreneur and every person with disabilities can participate fully in the digital economy,” he said. Machengete said the country now had 154 operational centres, supported by new infrastructure such as 40 shared base stations, six of which are in Matabeleland South. He said connectivity had also been extended to 2,561 schools and 1,393 health facilities nationwide, with the province accounting for 287 schools and 103 clinics. “These connections are not abstract numbers; they translate into e-learning in classrooms and faster, better-coordinated care in our clinics,” he said. To date, he added, more than 22,000 computers had been distributed to schools, including nearly 2,000 in Matabeleland South. The DG underscored inclusivity as a central principle, citing training for persons with disabilities. “We have trained 514 Persons with Disabilities in basic digital skills countrywide, with 31 hailing from Matabeleland South; and 69 in advanced skills, including 13 from this province,” he said. “Tshelanyemba Digital Centre will deepen and expand that work—offering accessible training pathways so that disability is never a barrier to digital opportunity.” Machengete said community uptake showed the relevance of the facilities. “In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Digital Centres recorded over 52,000 visits nationwide, with 1,549 visits here in Matabeleland South. That uptake tells us that when we bring services close to the people, and couple them with relevant skills, communities respond,” he said. He urged the operating partner, Zimpost, to keep the facility sustainable and called on the community to safeguard it. “To the youth of Tshelanyemba: this Centre is your launchpad. Use it to study, to code, to design, to apply for scholarships, to build businesses, and to tell your own stories to the world,” he said. Both the Minister and the Director General framed the centre as a symbol of inclusivity and resilience in a country where rural-urban divides often limit access to opportunity. The Tshelanyemba launch, they said, is both a statement of intent and a practical tool for transforming communities.