Mnangagwa is building a Silicon Savannah in Zimbabwe

"Zimbabwe's ICT policy is aimed at transformation, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation and partnerships in the mainstream economy and puts in place institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks in order to achieve its intended goals. It is therefore envisaged that all sectors of our economy and society at large will harness the power of ICTs for the development of our nation," President Emmerson Mnangagwa said launching the Zimbabwe National Policy for ICT and the Zimbabwe Innovation drive in Harare in March.

It is clear that since entering office, President Mnangagwa has set a progressive and all-embracing ICT policy at the top of his agenda, and it appears to be paying off.

There is already quite a buzz in Zimbabwe right now surrounding the growing opportunities that informational and communications technology might have as a transformational impact on our economy.

Zimbabwe, which has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, is looking to build capacity and technological know-how to build one of the continent's biggest IT hubs underpinned by big data and artificial intelligence.

Zimbabwe's tech industry is fast becoming one of the best performing in the southern part of the African continent and is close to reaching levels of nations far beyond. Many of the big telecom companies have recognised this growth and increased their investments into enhancing data capacity and capability, led by Econet, the No.1 telco, which is spending hundreds of millions of dollars expanding its 3G and LTE networks.

One of President Mnangagwa's most impressive and far-reaching policies is the development of smart cities, starting with a pilot undertaking in Mutare in the Eastern Highlands.

Tech hubs and innovators in Zimbabwe have already jumped onto this, with the Emisha City Hack for Bulawayo selecting innovator teams to benefit from support and funding for development of tech solutions to solve challenges faced by Zimbabwe's second city.

Zimbabwe's economy has long been dominated by mining and agriculture, particularly with the export of cash crops like tobacco and cotton. Nonetheless, like some African countries including Ethiopia, Ghana and Rwanda, more nations are exploring the potential of diversifying and investing or supporting a knowledge-led economy to rely less on the vagaries of global agricultural or mineral commodity markets.

"We will also be contributing in the building of national artificial intelligence," said Nigel Sheima Muguza, an official with the special advisor to the presidency. He highlighted the government's ambition to see Zimbabwe become a middle income country by 2030. "This can be achieved by use of ICT to improve the day to day lives of the citizens of this country." he explained.

The ICT policy that President Mnangagwa is ambitious as it is progressive and far-reaching.

He has recognised that to inculcate his holistic policy for a brighter and prosperous Zimbabwean future, the country has to embrace the means to do it. Today's technology, while not a panacea for all of our challenges, can certainly have important and vital ramifications for a country trying to lift itself up and regain its status as the 'breadbasket of Africa'.

An ICT policy will bring about important developments in terms of transformation, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation, economically, socially, security and for transparency in bureaucracy and government.

This is the new Zimbabwe that is readying for launch.

All of the best case scenario predictions about where Zimbabwe goes from here can be realised with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's vision of turning our nation into a 'Silicon Savannah'.