Staff Writer 
Tapiwa Chirume
NETONE chief executive officer Raphael Mushanawani has urged closer collaboration between government and industry to expand critical digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the mid-term economic review and high-level policy dialogue in Harare yesterday, Mushanawani said digital infrastructure had become a strategic pillar for economic transformation, with broadband connectivity driving productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth across key sectors of the economy.
“To fully unlock the transformative potential of Zimbabwe’s digital economy, continued collaboration between Government and industry remains essential. There is an opportunity to further strengthen the policy and fiscal environment by addressing the cost of digital infrastructure deployment,” Mushanawani said.
He said while selected ICT equipment enjoys duty-free status, the sector continued to face a 15 percent Value Added Tax on imports, additional taxes arising from varying tariff classifications, and inconsistencies in exemptions for broadband infrastructure equipment.
“Rationalising these measures would significantly reduce the cost of network expansion, accelerate investment and improve access to affordable digital services. Such policy interventions are fully aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, the National ICT Policy (2022-2027) and Vision 2030, all of which recognise digital infrastructure as a strategic enabler of industrialisation, innovation and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
Mushanawani said NetOne had expanded network coverage to reach about 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, connected more than four million subscribers, and continued investing in network modernisation and resilience.
“These are not just investments in connectivity. They are investments in national productivity. Our philosophy is simple: Every investment in network expansion must translate into economic expansion,” he added.
He said expanding connectivity to farming communities was improving access to markets, weather information, and financial services.
“When we strengthen digital access across industries, we reduce the cost of doing business and improve productivity by as much as 15 to 30 percent through digital adoption,” he said.
Mushanawani said the future of economic growth would be determined by how efficiently countries produce goods and services through technology rather than by production volumes alone.
“The next frontier of growth will not be defined by what we produce, but by how intelligently we produce it. Industry 4.0 demands intelligent networks, real-time systems and resilient digital platforms,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications sector faces significant capital expenditure hurdles due to foreign currency shortages and high import duties on high-tech machinery.
Under the National Development Strategy 2, digital transformation is prioritised as an economic multiplier, yet industry leaders argue that fiscal reforms are desperately needed to make internet connectivity affordable for rural communities.
