By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani says expanding digital access will require closer collaboration between government and industry to lower costs and accelerate network rollout.
Speaking at the Mid-Term Economic Review and High-Level Policy Dialogue in Harare under the theme Reinforcing Economic Stability in the Face of Geopolitical Risks, Mushanawani said digital infrastructure is now central to economic progress.
“Macroeconomic stability creates the foundation for growth, but digital transformation determines the speed, scale and inclusivity of that growth,” Mushanawani said.
He cited global research to support the point. “A 10 percent increase in broadband penetration can drive up to 1.5 percent GDP growth. This underscores a simple reality: Digital infrastructure is now core economic infrastructure,” he said.
Mushanawani said NetOne has positioned itself as more than a telecommunications company. “We are custodians of strategic national infrastructure,” he said.
He outlined recent investments. “Over the past few years, we have expanded coverage to reach 85 to 90 percent of the population, connected millions of Zimbabweans, with a subscriber base exceeding 4 million users, and invested in network modernisation and resilience.”
The CEO said connectivity must deliver economic value. “Our philosophy is simple: Every investment in network expansion must translate into economic expansion. When we connect farming communities, we enable access to markets, weather intelligence and financial inclusion. When we support mining, we enable real-time data, automation and operational efficiency,” he said.
He added that digital adoption is improving productivity. “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.”
As part of the Mutapa Investment Fund portfolio, Mushanawani said NetOne’s role goes beyond commercial success. “We do not see ourselves as spectators in economic transformation, we see ourselves as architects. Every dollar invested in digital infrastructure creates multiplier effects across the economy, attracting investment, strengthening competitiveness and enabling innovation,” he said.
Mushanawani urged policy support to make expansion easier. While some ICT equipment is duty free, he noted the sector still faces a 15 percent VAT on imports, additional taxes from tariff classifications, and inconsistencies in broadband equipment exemptions.
“Rationalising these measures would significantly reduce the cost of network expansion, accelerate investment and improve access to affordable digital services,” he said.
He said the proposals align with national plans. “Such policy interventions are fully aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, the National ICT Policy 2022 to 2027 and Vision 2030, all of which recognise digital infrastructure as a strategic enabler of industrialisation, innovation and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
The dialogue was attended by Minister of Industry and Commerce Honourable Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Honourable Dr. Polite Kambamura, Reserve Bank Governor Dr. John Mushayavanhu, Mutapa Investment Fund Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Mangudya, and Permanent Secretary for Finance George Guvamatanga, among other industry leaders.