NetOne, Zimbabwe’s leading mobile network operator, has positioned itself as a national catalyst for digital transformation, with Group Chief Executive Officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani pledging to bridge generational divides and empower the country’s youth at the Vision 2030 Intergenerational Dialogue Summit.
Addressing a distinguished audience at Newlands Country Club—including Vice President Dr. Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet ministers, diplomats, and industry leaders—Mushanawani declared.
“We are not merely a service provider, but a national enabler of opportunity. We are deploying the foundation of digital infrastructure that will carry the next generation into the future they deserve.”
The summit, held on 12 November, was a landmark event designed to foster collaboration between Zimbabwe’s seasoned leaders and its dynamic youth, all in pursuit of the nation’s Vision 2030 goals.
Empowering Youth Through Technology
A central theme of Mushanawani’s speech was the deliberate empowerment of young Zimbabweans.
“The youth of today are the leaders of our digital tomorrow, and our role is to equip them with the tools, the skills, and the platforms that ensure they thrive in a connected world,” he said.
NetOne’s partnerships with tertiary institutions, innovation hubs, and vocational training centres are nurturing a new generation of innovators, software developers, and data scientists. These efforts are closely aligned with the government’s Zimbabwe Digital Skills Training Program and the broader objectives of Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Smart Agriculture: Technology Meets the Land
NetOne’s Smart Agriculture programme is revolutionising rural livelihoods by providing young farmers with access to real-time weather forecasts, digital mapping, and land-use information.
“Connectivity is transforming land into opportunity, allowing youths to participate meaningfully in food security and sustainable farming,” Mushanawani explained.
The initiative, showcased at the 2025 Zimbabwe Agriculture Show, is part of a national push towards climate-smart, digitally-enabled agriculture, supporting the AgriTech Strategy 2021–2025.
Smart Mining: Digital Tools for a New Generation
In the mining sector, NetOne’s Smart Mining initiatives are equipping young Zimbabweans with digital surveying, claim management, and prospecting tools.
“Technology is now the new pickaxe,” Mushanawani declared. “These innovations are breaking historical barriers, creating new opportunities where once there were limits.”
This digital revolution is modernising an industry long dominated by manual processes, opening doors for responsible and efficient youth participation.
Building Digital Bridges Across Generations
Mushanawani emphasised the importance of intergenerational collaboration:
“Technology must not divide generations; it must connect them. The older generation brings wisdom and institutional memory; the younger generation brings innovation and agility. Our responsibility as NetOne is to create the digital bridges that make this exchange seamless, productive, and sustainable.”
NetOne’s approach is holistic, focusing not only on infrastructure but also on responsible digital citizenship. The company is actively supporting national campaigns against drug and substance abuse, using technology to educate and rehabilitate.
Measuring Success by Lives Transformed
“We measure our success not by the number of towers we erect, but by the number of lives we transform,” Mushanawani stated. “When a student in a rural college accesses e-learning content through our network, we have touched a life. When a clinic consults a specialist in Harare through a NetOne connection, we have touched a life.”
This people-centred philosophy underpins NetOne’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left disconnected from Zimbabwe’s national vision.
Recognising the global nature of digital transformation, Mushanawani called for greater collaboration among local and international ICT players:
“From local innovators to global Low Earth Orbit partners, we share one common space—the digital sky—and one common goal: the sustainable development of our nation.”
Vision 2030: A National Blueprint
Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, with digital transformation, youth empowerment, and inclusive growth at its core. NetOne’s initiatives are directly aligned with these national priorities, supporting the expansion of broadband, digital literacy, and sectoral innovation.
