Zimbabwe has called for African governments to strengthen digital governance policies, warning that without clear regulatory frameworks, the continent risks falling behind in the rapidly evolving global technology landscape.
Addressing the 44th African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) Roundtable Conference in Eswatuni, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister, Mercy Dinha said African states must urgently adopt agile, well-regulated digital systems that protect citizens while improving efficiency.
“We are living in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment where digital transformation is not an option but a necessity,” Dinha said.
Dinha argued that digital reforms must be underpinned by solid policy architecture. She said organisational agility, the ability to respond quickly and make informed, data-driven decisions, is now central to public-sector digitalisation.
“Agility in leadership is more than just reactivity; it is facing change proactively, a willingness to experiment and learn, and flexibility in decision-making amidst uncertainty,” she said.
Presenting Zimbabwe’s experience, Deputy Minister Dinha said the government has begun aligning regulatory and institutional frameworks with its long-term digital vision. Under Vision 2030, Zimbabwe is automating public finance management, human resources, civil registration, and health systems, while expanding the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics.
She highlighted tools such as the Electronic Executive Dashboard, which enables the presidency to monitor national projects in real time, as examples of governance reforms that require clear oversight and accountability mechanisms.
“It’s time to interrogate existing workflow processes in our governments and validate whether they are citizencentric,” she emphasised.
Dinha also urged African states to prioritise safeguards for workers and citizens as automation accelerates. She warned that digitalisation has ethical, legal, and social implications that governments must anticipate through regulation.
“Employees often feel stressed and uncertain as their jobs are transformed,” she said, calling for mental health support, staff training, and protections against misuse of technology.
The deputy minister said Africa must not only adopt digital tools but also develop continent-wide policy standards on data privacy, cybersecurity, algorithmic transparency, and digital rights to ensure that technological progress does not undermine trust.
The AAPAM conference is bringing together policymakers and senior administrators from across Africa to explore how digital innovation and governance reforms can drive more accountable, inclusive, and citizen-focused public service systems.
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