NetOne, Zimbabwe’s state-owned telecommunications company, is positioning itself at the heart of the country’s digital transformation. Its chief executive officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, has recently been recognised with two accolades: the Achievers Award for Outstanding Excellence in Smart Technologies and Enhanced Broadband Services at the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in Harare, and the title of Business Leader of the Year 2025 from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce. Both honours, he insists, are not personal triumphs but a reflection of the institution and its people.
“This award is not mine alone, it belongs to the people of Zimbabwe,” he said in Harare. “It confirms NetOne’s role as the digital heartbeat of the nation. It is a call for us to accelerate connecting the unconnected, and to walk in step with the vision of President Mnangagwa to leave no one and no place behind.”
Mushanawani frames NetOne’s growth not as a chase for profit but as a pursuit of purpose. In his view, technology must be an equaliser, bridging the gaps between rural and urban communities, empowering farmers in Tsholotsho, students in Mutoko and entrepreneurs in Mbare with the same digital tools available in Harare or New York. Internet access, he argues, is not a luxury but the bloodline of financial inclusivity and modern economies. “We know that data is a catalyst for growing a modern economy,” he said.
This approach has shaped NetOne’s strategy in a cutthroat telecommunications sector. Rather than competing on price, the company has chosen to compete on solutions, modernising its network, expanding coverage to marginalised areas, and adopting artificial intelligence to improve efficiency. AI, Mushanawani explained, is already deployed to predict maintenance before faults happen, optimise network traffic in real time, and tailor customer solutions. The result is reduced downtime, smarter operations, and more reliable service.
The company’s ambitions go beyond traditional telecommunications. NetOne is increasingly positioning itself as a driver of digital innovation across mobile money, education, health, e-commerce and e-governance. Mushanawani hinted that the brand is even looking at opportunities beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, with an eye to becoming a continental player. “Perhaps out there we may find competition that helps position our brand to be a continental telecommunications giant in the near future,” he said.
He is convinced that Zimbabwe’s future growth will depend on how emerging technologies are used. He cited examples such as AI-powered agriculture to boost yields, telemedicine to close healthcare gaps, and e-learning platforms to deliver world-class education to every child. “Emerging technologies are Zimbabwe’s passport to leapfrogging decades of underdevelopment,” he argued. “With bold policy, visionary leadership and partnerships with innovators like NetOne, Zimbabwe can leap into the future without waiting to catch up.”
The potential, he added, is immense. Zimbabwe’s mining sector exceeded its US$23 billion target in 2023, and Mushanawani believes that integrating digital innovations into mining could multiply those gains. He also pointed to the African diaspora, which sends more than US$95 billion annually in remittances, surpassing foreign aid and investment. NetOne is developing new globalised mobile money services and fresh e-wallet solutions to tap into this flow and offer financial inclusivity at an international scale.
With the country moving from its first National Development Strategy to the next phase, Mushanawani envisions NetOne amplifying its role across all sectors. “We are the bridge between rural and urban, between yesterday and tomorrow. Our mandate is national, our vision is continental, and our determination is to ensure Zimbabwe thrives in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said.
That determination also extends to environmental, social and governance commitments. NetOne is rolling out solar-powered base stations, building ICT labs, nurturing nutritional gardens, and supporting digital literacy programmes for young people. Sustainability, he stressed, is embedded in the company’s DNA.
Mushanawani does not measure success by awards alone, despite the recognition his leadership has attracted. “Our best award is maximum customer satisfaction. Service is what matters most, more than being recognised for doing what we are mandated to do,” he said.
For now, NetOne’s message is clear: the company is not just providing connectivity but seeking to drive Zimbabwe’s digital transformation from the ground up, ensuring that data truly becomes the catalyst for building a modern economy. – The Southern African Times
