28 March 2023
Women’s affairs, community, small, and medium development minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the aim was to raise internet access in the next two years. The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe's (Potraz) second-quarter report of 2022 showed that internet penetration stood at 61.3%.
“The mobile penetration rate is expected to increase to 75.4 % by 2025 from the current 61.3%,” said Nyoni.
In neighbouring South Africa, 80% of the population of more than 60 million have access to the internet. As of 2022, the share of the total population of South Africa using the internet was nearly 80%. Internet access is South Africa is expected to grow to 90% by 2027.
The Zimbabwe telecoms regulator is funding the relocation of collocated towers to ensure marginalised communities have at least 2G connectivity enabling them to participate in the digital economy.