WHAT began in 1996 as Zimbabwe’s first mobile telecommunications network, at a time when mobile phones were a rare luxury and connectivity a privilege, has evolved into one of the country’s most influential digital infrastructure players, now positioning itself at the centre of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda.
As NetOne marks 30 years of operations, the State-owned mobile network says its journey is no longer just about connecting calls, but about powering education, driving commerce, enabling financial inclusion and supporting national development in line with Vision 2030.
“Thirty years later, NetOne’s story is inseparable from Zimbabwe’s own story of resilience, innovation and progress,” the company said in a statement marking its Pearl Anniversary.
“It is not merely commemorating three decades of business operations. It is celebrating thirty years of connecting people to opportunities, empowering communities, supporting economic growth and helping build the digital foundations of a modern Zimbabwe.”
From its early beginnings in a low-penetration telecommunications market, NetOne says the evolution of mobile technology has fundamentally reshaped how Zimbabweans live and work, with the mobile phone now functioning as a tool for banking, learning, healthcare access, entrepreneurship and communication.
Under group chief executive officer Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, the company says it has undergone a strategic shift from being a conventional telecoms operator to what it describes as a “strategic enabler of Zimbabwe’s digital economy”.
That transformation, NetOne says, is anchored within national development priorities including Vision 2030, the National Development Strategies and the Mutapa Investment Fund framework, which the government has positioned as key instruments for driving economic modernisation and long-term value creation.
“The transformation of NetOne has unfolded within the broader framework of Zimbabwe’s national development agenda championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” the statement reads.
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“As one of Zimbabwe’s key national enterprises, NetOne has embraced this responsibility, aligning its investments, innovation and community programmes with the vision of building an empowered, prosperous and digitally connected upper-middle-income society.”
NetOne argues that connectivity has become a foundational pillar of development, extending far beyond traditional communication services.
“Connectivity powers education. Connectivity drives commerce. Connectivity supports healthcare. Connectivity enables agriculture. Connectivity facilitates financial inclusion. Connectivity creates employment. Connectivity accelerates national development,” the company said.
The operator says it has responded to this shift by investing in modern network infrastructure, including 4G LTE and 5G technologies, aimed at expanding access and enabling citizens, businesses and young entrepreneurs to participate more fully in the digital economy.
Beyond technology investment, NetOne says its corporate social responsibility programmes have become a core part of its identity, rather than a peripheral obligation.
“For NetOne, corporate social responsibility is not an obligation. It is a commitment to nation-building,” the company said.
“Guided by the principle of leaving no one and no place behind, the organisation has consistently invested in initiatives that improve lives and strengthen communities.”
These initiatives include equipping schools with computers and digital learning tools, supporting school rehabilitation projects, rolling out solar-powered solutions in underserved areas, and establishing nutritional gardens to promote food security.
NetOne also highlighted programmes supporting persons with albinism, alongside anti-drug and substance abuse campaigns aimed at protecting young people and strengthening community wellbeing.
“These initiatives demonstrate a simple but powerful philosophy: development must be inclusive,” the statement said.
“Every learner empowered, every community connected, every vulnerable citizen supported and every opportunity created contributes towards a stronger Zimbabwe.”
The company further pointed to its international roaming partnerships as part of its broader strategy to strengthen cross-border connectivity, facilitating trade, tourism and regional integration by keeping Zimbabweans connected beyond national borders.
As it enters its fourth decade, NetOne says its focus is firmly on deepening digital transformation and expanding access to opportunity.
“The first 30 years were about connecting Zimbabwe. The next thirty years will be about empowering Zimbabwe to thrive in the digital age,” the statement said.
NetOne concluded that its story goes beyond telecommunications and speaks to national development itself.
“This is more than the story of a telecommunications company.
“It is the story of a network that helped build a nation — and whose greatest contribution may still lie ahead.”
