The OECD.AI Policy Navigator

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026–2030 establishes a national framework to harness artificial intelligence for inclusive growth, innovation and digital sovereignty, aligned with Vision 2030 and national development strategies. It addresses the opportunity presented by advances in AI while recognising risks such as inequality, skills shortages, fragmented data systems, infrastructure limitations and weak governance. The strategy seeks to ensure Zimbabwe shapes the adoption of AI in line with local values, national priorities and the Ubuntu philosophy.

The strategy is structured around six strategic pillars: AI Talent and Capacity Development; AI Infrastructure and Computational Sovereignty; AI Adoption and Service Transformation; AI Governance, Ethics and Regulatory Framework; AI Research, Development and Innovation; and Strategic International Collaboration and Diplomacy. These pillars focus on strengthening AI literacy and education, expanding research capacity, building secure compute and data infrastructure, promoting responsible and widespread sectoral adoption, and establishing ethical and regulatory safeguards. The strategy builds on identified national strengths, including high literacy levels, indigenous knowledge systems and an emerging digital ecosystem, while addressing gaps such as brain drain, limited institutional resources and data silos.

Target sectors include agriculture, mining, healthcare, education, financial services, manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy, public services, environment and climate resilience, and defence and security. AI is positioned as a tool to improve productivity, service delivery, governance transparency and economic diversification, with particular attention to inclusion of rural communities, women, youth and small and medium enterprises. The strategy was developed through a multi‑stakeholder process involving government, academia, the private sector, civil society, the diaspora and international partners.

Implementation, oversight and accountability are supported through defined governance mechanisms. Strategic direction is provided by the National AI Council, while day‑to‑day coordination, execution and monitoring are led by the AI Strategy Implementation Office, supported by sector‑specific Technical Working Groups. A dedicated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework defines indicators, targets and reporting processes across the strategy’s lifecycle, supported by public reporting and periodic reviews. Ethical considerations are integrated throughout, with commitments to human dignity, privacy, transparency, inclusivity, safety and accountability guiding AI development and deployment in Zimbabwe.