NetOne Expands Digital Connectivity in Gokwe, Drives National Transformation

NetOne has pledged to accelerate Zimbabwe’s digital transformation following the launch of a major connectivity project in Msala, Gokwe, on Friday, 5 September 2025.

The event, attended by senior Government officials including the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, and the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, marked a significant milestone in bridging the digital divide and supporting the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

Minister Mavetera described connectivity as an essential service, placing it at the same level as water, roads, and electricity.

“Connectivity is no longer a privilege. It is a necessity. Through initiatives like the Digitalise Zimbabwe Expo and NetOne’s network expansion, ICT is being brought to the doorstep of every Zimbabwean, ensuring no community is left behind,” she said.

Minister Ncube commended NetOne for its role in transforming Gokwe into a digital hub, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing national priorities.

“Today, Msala is not just a point on the map. It is on the digital highway. This partnership proves that when national vision meets corporate commitment, lives are transformed, and the province prospers,” he said.

NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, said the initiative was not only about infrastructure but about empowerment and inclusive growth.

“NetOne does not only connect phones; we connect lives, families, and futures. From education to digital learning, from clean water to sustainable agriculture, our commitment is to ensure that no Zimbabwean is left behind,” he said.

The company’s contribution to community development was highlighted through the donation of computers to schools, installation of solar-powered boreholes, nutritional gardens, and drip irrigation systems.

The launch also unveiled the Digitalise Zimbabwe Roving ICT Expo, a programme aimed at training 1.5 million coders, deploying digitrucks to remote areas, expanding community Wi-Fi, and appointing Digital Ambassadors in every province.

NetOne’s efforts were praised as a direct response to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans to build their own nation — “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”

What unfolded in Msala, stakeholders said, was not just the commissioning of a base station but the fulfilment of a national promise to ensure that every citizen has equal access to the digital economy.

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