By Simbarashe Muparaganda
Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – An increasing number of Zimbabweans are embracing artificial intelligence (AI), particularly for education and learning, as rising internet connectivity and mobile phone ownership drive the country’s digital transformation, a survey has revealed.
The 2025 ICT Access by Households and Use by Individuals Survey Report was jointly conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ).
The survey found that 31 percent of internet users are now using AI tools, with Meta AI emerging as the most popular platform at 53.7 percent, followed by ChatGPT at 29.1 percent.
Education and learning accounted for 91.5 percent of AI use, making it by far the leading application of the technology among Zimbabweans.
Speaking at the launch of the report, POTRAZ director-general Dr Gift Machengete said the findings demonstrated the country’s steady progress towards a digitally empowered society.
“This report is more than a collection of statistics. It is a roadmap for Zimbabwe’s digital future.
“It provides credible evidence that will guide policy formulation, investment decisions and the implementation of programmes aimed at accelerating digital transformation,” he said.
Machengete commended the longstanding partnership between POTRAZ and ZIMSTAT in producing reliable and internationally comparable ICT statistics.
“Reliable data is essential for informed decision-making. We encourage all stakeholders to use the report’s findings to strengthen digital inclusion, enhance digital skills and accelerate Zimbabwe’s digital transformation,” he said.
The survey shows that 96,4 percent of Zimbabwean households now own a mobile phone, while 75.5 percent have internet access at home, highlighting the growing penetration of digital technologies across the country.
It found that 80 percent of households own a radio and 30,3 percent have a television.
Computer ownership, however, remains relatively low at 11,2 percent, with laptops accounting for 84,4 percent of computers owned.
Mobile broadband continues to dominate internet access, with 92,2 percent of households connecting through mobile handsets.
The report also revealed that WhatsApp remains the country’s dominant social media platform, used by 92,9 percent of internet users, followed by Facebook at 44,8 percent and TikTok at 38 percent.
Despite the rapid adoption of digital technologies, the survey also found that only 43,7 percent of Zimbabweans possess basic digital skills, underscoring the need for greater investment in digital literacy programmes.
The survey further showed that the use of traditional postal services continues to decline as more locals shift to digital communication platforms and online services.
Regionally, Bulawayo recorded the highest household internet access at 98 percent, while Manicaland had the lowest at 61,6 percent, largely due to difficult terrain that affects network infrastructure deployment.
ZIMSTAT Director General Tafadzwa Bandama said the survey provides vital evidence to support informed decision-making.
“We collaborated with POTRAZ to carry out this survey on ICT usage by households. The key findings show that the use of postal services has declined as more people embrace digital services,” he said.
Bandama said the findings would support evidence-based policy making as Zimbabwe continues to expand access to digital technologies and bridge the digital divide.
The ICT Access by Households and Use by Individuals Survey is conducted periodically to measure the availability and use of information and communication technologies across the country.
The findings provide government, regulators, investors and development partners with data to guide digital inclusion initiatives, infrastructure investment and national ICT policy.
New Ziana
