NetOne turns technology into tool for social change
TECHNOLOGY giant, NetOne, is repositioning itself as more than a telecoms provider, launching a national initiative to harness digital technology to tackle Zimbabwe’s most pressing social crises, from rising drug abuse and youth unemployment to failing rural services and food insecurity.
Addressing the Vision 2030 Intergenerational Dialogue Summit in Harare, group chief executive officer Raphael Mushanawani said the firm is collaborating with various stakeholders to support national campaigns against drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
“We are also conscious of the human side of technology — its impact on how people live, learn and lead,” he said.
“Technology must serve humanity, not replace it. It must uplift, not isolate. As we connect communities, we are equally committed to promoting responsible digital citizenship.
“That is why we are collaborating with various stakeholders to support national campaigns against drug and substance abuse, especially among the youth.
“The same technology that distracts can also rehabilitate and educate — and NetOne is determined to be part of that solution.”
Mushanawani described how the company is using its platforms to reach vulnerable youth, provide digital counselling and support rehabilitation efforts, turning connectivity into a lifeline for communities struggling with substance abuse.
NetOne is also transforming agriculture into a data-driven sector for young farmers.
Mobile-based weather analytics, digital mapping, soil and crop information, and advisory services are enabling youth to make informed decisions and boost productivity.
“In Smart Agriculture, we are empowering young farmers to use mobile technology to access weather forecasts, digital mapping, and land-use information — helping them make informed decisions and increase productivity,” Mushanawani said.
In mining, the telecoms firm is introducing digital prospecting, claim management and surveying tools, opening up the sector to small-scale, youth-led operators while reducing risk and improving efficiency.
“In Smart Mining, technology is now the new pickaxe. Digital surveying, claim management, and prospecting tools are enabling young Zimbabweans to participate in the mining value chain responsibly and efficiently.
“These innovations are breaking historical barriers, creating new opportunities where once there were limits,” he added.
Mushanawani said NetOne measures success not by towers erected, but by lives transformed.
Connectivity, he argued, has become Zimbabwe’s most powerful equaliser, capable of stabilising communities, rebuilding institutions, and expanding economic opportunity.
While acknowledging that NetOne cannot tackle these challenges alone, Mushanawani said partnerships with government, local innovators, and global players, including Low Earth Orbit satellite providers, are central to the company’s mission.
“As we move toward Vision 2030, we are not just imagining the future — we are building it, one connection, one skill and one empowered young person at a time,” he said.
