NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani has called for reforms to Zimbabwe’s taxation and policy framework for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, arguing that lower costs for digital infrastructure investment would accelerate economic growth and improve national competitiveness.
Speaking during the Mid-Term Economic Review and High-Level Policy Dialogue in Harare, Mushanawani said digital infrastructure had become a critical driver of economic development and productivity amid growing geopolitical and technological changes.
He said macroeconomic stability alone was not sufficient to achieve sustainable growth, adding that digital transformation would determine the pace and inclusiveness of economic development.
“Digital infrastructure is now core economic infrastructure,” Mushanawani said, noting that international studies show that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration can contribute up to 1.5 percent to gross domestic product growth.
The NetOne chief executive said the telecommunications operator had expanded network coverage to reach between 85 and 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s population and now serves more than four million subscribers.
He said the company had invested heavily in network modernisation and resilience, describing the investments as essential to improving national productivity.
According to Mushanawani, improved connectivity enables farmers to access markets and weather information, supports efficiency in the mining sector through real-time data and automation, and reduces business costs across industries.
He said digital adoption could improve productivity by between 15 and 30 percent in various sectors of the economy.
Mushanawani also called for greater collaboration between government and industry to support the expansion of digital infrastructure.
He said although some ICT equipment enjoys duty-free status, the sector continues to face a 15 percent value-added tax on imports, additional taxes arising from different tariff classifications, and inconsistencies in exemptions for broadband infrastructure equipment.
He argued that rationalising these taxes and charges would lower network deployment costs, encourage investment and improve access to affordable digital services.
The NetOne chief said such measures would support the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2, the National ICT Policy and Vision 2030, which identify digital infrastructure as a key enabler of industrialisation and inclusive economic growth.
The Mid-Term Economic Review and High-Level Policy Dialogue brought together government officials, business leaders, development partners and economic experts to discuss strategies for maintaining economic stability amid global geopolitical risks.
