Mnangagwa admits Zimbabwe is 1000 years behind in terms of technology
"We are almost 1000 years behind in terms of technology when you look at what is happening here."
DUBAI – Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received a stark reminder of his country’s technological shortcomings during a visit to the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Witnessing the impressive artificial intelligence (AI) systems employed by the Dubai Police, which autonomously assign patrols without human intervention, Mnangagwa acknowledged a significant gap.
“Everything that I have seen, we don’t have it in Zimbabwe,” he admitted, expressing shock at the advanced technology on display. “We are almost 1000 years behind in terms of technology when you look at what is happening here.”
Mnangagwa described his astonishment at the Dubai Police’s ability to monitor the entire city from a single control room, dispatching units within minutes. “I didn’t know such technology existed,” he confessed.
Recognizing the potential for advancement, Mnangagwa called for “serious cooperation” between Zimbabwe and Dubai. He emphasized the inefficiency of reinventing the wheel, highlighting the opportunity to learn and adapt existing innovations.
“UAE is friendly to Zimbabwe, so we need further cooperation in science and technology for us to leapfrog our technology,” he stated, aiming to propel Zimbabwe forward by harnessing foreign expertise and advancements.
This visit exposed the vast difference in technological development between Zimbabwe and other parts of the world.
Decades of economic turmoil have starved technological innovation in Zimbabwe. The country’s brightest minds are also leaving for greener pastures. Key technological tools like the internet are very expensive and slow.
Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) is reluctant to approve SpaceX’s application to launch Starlink services in the country.
