In the global narrative of technological progress, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often portrayed as something only big companies in Silicon Valley, well-funded research labs, and multinational corporations can do.
This narrative can make people in emerging economies like Zimbabwe feel powerless, as it casts AI as a distant luxury imported from elsewhere rather than a practical tool for solving problems at home.
It is time to change this way of thinking at its core.
The real drivers of relevant, sustainable, and transformative AI in Zimbabwe will not be foreign tech companies, but the country’s dynamic, adaptable, and deeply contextual small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). (SMEs must be recognised, empowered, and funded as the main drivers of AI development and use.
The AI imperative and benefits for SMEs
Zimbabwe faces unique challenges that must be addressed to grow: maximising agricultural output amid changing weather patterns, improving access to health care, and streamlining access to money in a complex monetary system.
At its core, AI is a tool for solving problems. It is great at spotting trends in data, making predictions, automating tasks, and tailoring services to each person.
Zimbabwe’s problems won’t be solved by using generic, ready-made software designed for Western countries.
They will come from a deep understanding of the local market, how people shop, and the problems they face.
This is where small and medium-sized businesses have a huge edge. Because they live in their communities, they have contextual intelligence that no outside company can match.
A small logistics company in Harare knows far more about the real-world problems that delivery routes face than a global algorithm.
A horticulture exporter in Mutare understands how micro-climates and supply chain issues can affect crops without having to think about it.
A small business in Bulawayo that sells micro-insurance knows its clients’ cash-flow patterns well.
When this deep, hidden knowledge is combined with AI’s ability to analyse data, the possibilities for hyper-localised innovation are huge.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are also more flexible than large businesses.
They can pilot an AI-powered solution on a small scale, such as a chatbot for customer service, a predictive model for inventory management, or a drone-based tool for field analysis.
They can learn quickly, adapt, and grow organically.
They don’t have to contend with legacy IT systems or bureaucratic red tape, so they can use and update technology as needed.
Making AI clear for small businesses
Perception is the first barrier. For many small business owners, “AI” conjures images of humanoid robots and science-fiction-level complexity.
The campaign needs to change how people think about AI, using practical, easy-to-understand terms: “AI as an efficiency partner.”
For a small retail business, AI is a simple tool that analyses past sales and seasonal trends to help keep popular items in stock and free up cash that would otherwise be tied up in unsold inventory.
For a marketing agency, AI is a tool for curating content and scheduling social media posts that helps identify trending topics and the best times to post, getting more customers with less work.
For a small manufacturing company, AI is a smartphone-based machine vision system that performs quality control by detecting flaws in products faster and more accurately than the human eye.
For an agricultural cooperative, AI is a platform that analyses weather and soil data and sends smallholder farmers localised, timely advice on planting and irrigation through SMS.
The goal is not to build a machine that can think for itself from scratch. Instead, it is to use existing, affordable AI tools and, most importantly, to build custom apps that solve problems unique to Zimbabwe.
To turn small and medium-sized businesses from AI bystanders into AI propellers, the whole country needs to work together.
Policy must lead the way
Developing a National AI Strategy for SMEs: a clear plan that prioritises the most important sectors (agri-tech, fintech, health-tech, logistics) and brings together ministries, universities, and businesses.
Tax breaks for small and medium-sized businesses investing in AI software, hardware, and training. Grants for AI pilot projects with clear problem statements.
Digital infrastructure: Reliable, affordable access to broadband and cloud computing is the top priority. It is undisputed that public-private partnerships are needed to expand this infrastructure.
Sandbox regulations: Establishing a “sandbox” for fintech or health-tech SMEs to safely test new AI-driven products under the oversight of the Reserve Bank or the Ministry of Health.
This encourages innovation without imposing immediate, full compliance on businesses.
Academia as the talent pipeline
Universities and polytechnics need to move away from teaching only theoretical computer science and begin teaching applied AI.
Integrating AI, data science, and machine learning into business, agriculture, and engineering degrees exemplifies curriculum integration.
R&D for SMEs: Getting students and faculty to work on real-world problems provided by local SMEs for their final-year projects and research theses.
Short-cycle training: Providing current SME workers and business owners with certificates and bootcamps on how to use AI tools and understand data.
The private sector and the diaspora as enablers
Local Tech Hubs and Incubators require organisations such as Muzinda Hub, TechVillage, and others to actively support startups by providing mentorship, cloud credits, and seed funding.
Corporate partnerships: Large companies can help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) develop AI by providing access to their platforms’ APIs, sharing anonymised, non-competitive data, or launching challenge prizes for AI solutions within their value chains.
Diaspora engagement: Leveraging the knowledge and skills of the Zimbabwean diaspora in major tech hubs worldwide to provide remote mentorship, angel investment, and knowledge transfer.
Embracing the data-driven journey
SMEs need to change their own culture.
Start with Data: The first step is not fancy algorithms but collecting data in a planned way. Digitising customer records, sales logs, and business processes provides AI with the data it needs to grow.
Work together and partner up: Most small and medium-sized businesses won’t have their own AI engineer. The most important step is to work with local data scientists, app developers, or university teams.
The SME knows the subject and the problem well, and the tech partner builds the solution.
Focus on ROI, not hype: Prioritise AI projects that will clearly deliver a long-term return. These projects should cut costs, save time, boost sales, or increase customer loyalty.
The ultimate goal isn’t just to have small businesses in Zimbabwe using AI; it’s to create an environment where Zimbabwean small businesses export AI intelligence.
Consider a startup in Bulawayo that develops a robust AI model capable of diagnosing common crop diseases from a smartphone photo.
This tool could be used across southern Africa. Imagine a small fintech company in Harare developing an AI model for alternative credit scoring for people without bank accounts. This model could be licensed across Africa.
If Zimbabwe puts SMEs at the centre of its digital development, it can follow a path of sovereign digital development. Instead of relying on technology from other countries, the country can nurture its own innovators, solve its biggest problems, and start a new export sector based on knowledge.
The first step on the journey is to recognise that the creativity needed to shape the future is not far away but is in the busy SMEs in our cities and towns, just waiting to be sparked. Now is the time to fill that engine with petrol.