Itai Ndongwe
HARARE – The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) continues to consolidate its position in the country’s digital transformation agenda, with Director-General Dr Gift K. Machengete named first runner-up in the Public Entities Regulatory CEOs category at the 2026 Performance Contracts Signing and Awards Ceremony.
The event, held this week and presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, brought together heads of public entities to assess performance, accountability and service delivery across government institutions.
The recognition adds to a string of accolades for POTRAZ following what the authority describes as a strong 2025 performance. Among its recent honours are CEO of the Year (Regulatory) at the Africa CEO Roundtable awards, the Cybersecurity Initiative of the Year Award, and Best in ICT Inclusion for People with Disabilities at the Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards.
According to POTRAZ, its programmes have increasingly focused on expanding access to digital services, particularly in underserved communities. The authority reports that more than 257,000 people visited its Digital Centres in the past year, while nearly 15,000 received training in basic digital skills. Ten new centres have been completed, with an additional 20 containerised facilities refurbished.
Sector-wide indicators also point to growth. Internet penetration is now at 82.87 percent, while mobile penetration has reached 104.83 percent. Broadband coverage has expanded to 74.6 percent of the country.
In line with global trends around data governance, POTRAZ has also stepped up efforts in cybersecurity and data protection. A total of 691 Data Protection Officers have been trained, and 845 Data Controller licences issued to organisations handling personal data.
Looking ahead, the regulator says its 2026 priorities will centre on widening access, strengthening digital skills and supporting innovation. Planned interventions include rolling out digital literacy programmes in schools and communities, commissioning additional Digital Centres, and supporting local start-ups through its Innovation Drive platform.
The authority is also targeting increased distribution of ICT equipment to schools, universities and government departments as part of efforts to close the digital gap.
POTRAZ says these initiatives are designed to ensure broader participation in the digital economy while safeguarding users through stronger data protection frameworks.
As Zimbabwe pushes to modernise its economy, the regulator’s role remains central in balancing infrastructure development, innovation and consumer protection within the ICT sector.
