By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
The historic launch of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s Z+ Over-The-Top streaming platform on 9 July 2026 at Monomotapa Hotel in Harare was more than a media milestone—it was a testament to the power of strategic enablement.
While ZBC took centre stage with its homegrown digital service, standing firmly behind the scenes was NetOne, the state-owned telecommunications provider, not as a technical co-developer of the platform, but as the connectivity enabler whose broadband infrastructure and network resilience make Z+ accessible to millions of Zimbabweans at home and abroad.
NetOne’s role in the Z+ initiative is clear and deliberate: it provides the digital backbone—the high-speed internet, extensive coverage, and reliable data services—that allow users to stream live television, listen to radio, and access on-demand content anytime, anywhere, on any device. The company also supports the initiative through promotional and logistical assistance, ensuring that the platform reaches its intended audience across urban, rural, and diaspora communities. This is not about building applications; it is about building the roads on which digital services travel, and NetOne has invested heavily in expanding 4G LTE, rolling out 5G, and strengthening fibre infrastructure to ensure that no Zimbabwean is left behind in the digital age.
The support by NetOne exemplifies a broader national approach under the Second Republic, where State-owned enterprises collaborate to advance the priorities of the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030. NetOne has consistently positioned itself as a strategic enabler of Government’s digital transformation agenda, aligning its investments and innovations with the goal of building an empowered, prosperous, and digitally connected society. Its Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, has often remarked that while content may be king, connectivity is the kingdom upon which the digital economy is built—a philosophy that guides every network expansion and every partnership the company undertakes.
Beyond the media sector, NetOne’s enabling role spans critical pillars of the economy. In tourism, the company has partnered with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to digitise inspection systems, expand connectivity at tourist sites, and integrate artificial intelligence, helping to transform Zimbabwe into a smart tourism destination that already contributes over fifteen percent of national GDP. In youth empowerment, NetOne works with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training to bridge the digital skills gap and foster entrepreneurship among more than 5.4 million young Zimbabweans, turning job seekers into job creators. Its Digital Schools Connect programme equips rural schools with ICT laboratories and internet access, directly supporting universal digital literacy, while the OneMoney mobile money platform extends financial services to unbanked communities, advancing economic inclusion and resilience.
Sustainability is woven into NetOne’s corporate ethos, with the company embracing Environmental, Social and Governance principles as central to its operations. It deploys IoT-enabled sensors to monitor and protect Zimbabwe’s wetlands and leads nationwide clean-up campaigns in response to President Mnangagwa’s call for a clean and dignified nation. These efforts, alongside support for healthcare and disaster relief connectivity, demonstrate that NetOne views corporate responsibility not as an obligation but as a commitment to nation-building.
The Z+ launch is a powerful illustration of what can be achieved when institutions work together in pursuit of national priorities. NetOne did not build the platform, but its connectivity makes the platform a reality for students, farmers, families, and professionals across the country and in the diaspora. By providing the digital infrastructure and support that enable ZBC’s innovation to reach every corner of Zimbabwe, NetOne has reaffirmed its role as a reliable, sustainable, and visionary partner in the country’s journey towards Vision 2030. As the company enters its fourth decade, its focus remains firmly on deepening digital transformation, expanding access to opportunity, and ensuring that the digital economy leaves no place and no one behind. In the words of its chief executive, the first thirty years were about connecting Zimbabwe; the next thirty will be about empowering Zimbabwe to thrive in the digital age.