Harare, (New Ziana) – Russia is offering to transfer a comprehensive suite of digital technologies, software and infrastructure to Zimbabwe, including systems designed to modernize public services and develop smart cities, as the two countries explore deeper technological cooperation ahead of the Russia–Africa Summit scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow.
Andrey Gromov, Executive Secretary of the Board of the African-Russian Energy Association (AREA) and founder of consulting agency GR-Group, said Moscow was prepared to equip Zimbabwe with digital solutions while transferring control of the systems, including their server-side components, to local authorities.
The proposed cooperation could support Zimbabwe’s ambitions under its National Development Strategy 2 to 2030, which prioritizes digital transformation as part of broader efforts to modernize the economy and improve public service delivery.
“We are ready to share our technological infrastructure, provide software, and deliver the entire ecosystem, transferring it all to the Zimbabwean side,” Gromov said..
“Furthermore, we transfer everything – we don’t even retain the server-side components for ourselves.”
The offer comes as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen its technological capabilities and reduce reliance on imported digital solutions by developing local expertise, skills and innovation.
Gromov said Russia was also prepared to train Zimbabwean specialists, arguing that the country’s technical education tradition and experience in advanced scientific research could help build a foundation for technological development on the continent.
He cited Russian expertise in robotics, space exploration and particle physics as evidence of the country’s capacity to contribute to Zimbabwe’s digital ambitions.
Beyond supplying technology, Russia is proposing the transfer of integrated systems that have already been deployed in other markets, including smart-city solutions and platforms designed to make government services more accessible and efficient.
Gromov said Russian technology companies were increasingly active across African markets, with some already beginning operations in Zimbabwe.
He also identified digital governance as a potential area for cooperation, pointing to Russia’s Gosuslugi government services portal and Moi Dokumenty public service centres as examples of systems designed to simplify interactions between citizens and the state.
According to Gromov, Russia’s approach places considerable emphasis on convenience, accessibility and feedback from citizens rather than relying exclusively on statistical measures of performance.
He said digital services were tailored to different groups, including older people and children, while city-level platforms complemented national government systems.
Public participation also plays a role, with citizens able to propose community initiatives through digital platforms, while authorities monitor feedback on social media and news platforms to identify emerging needs.
“We are now offering these same solutions to our partners in Harare. In fact, some of these projects are already under consideration, and a few have even been launched,” he said.
One initiative under consideration involves a digital platform for voluntary mutual assistance, through which citizens could contribute to improving their neighbourhoods, maintaining public spaces and promoting community order in exchange for small rewards.
Gromov said a proposal had already been shared with Zimbabwean counterparts and that the initiative was expected to enable more citizens to participate in community improvement activities.
However, he acknowledged that implementing such systems would require political decisions, suggesting that technological cooperation would depend not only on the availability of software and infrastructure but also on Zimbabwe’s commitment to adopting and integrating the proposed solutions.
The broader ambition, he said, should be to enable Zimbabwe to develop its own digital capabilities rather than remain a passive consumer of imported technology.
He argued that cooperation could provide opportunities for knowledge transfer, specialist training and the development of locally relevant innovations.
“If we join forces, I am confident that Zimbabwe can – and will – become a leader in the realm of digital solutions, at least on the continent,” Gromov said.
His remarks place digital sovereignty – the ability of a country to maintain control over its technological infrastructure, data and digital development priorities – at the centre of the proposed partnership.
For Zimbabwe, the potential benefits will ultimately depend on the terms of technology transfer, the extent of local technical capacity-building, data protection safeguards and the sustainability of the systems after deployment.
The October 28–29 Russia–Africa Summit is expected to provide a platform for further engagement on digital transformation and other areas of cooperation between Moscow and African countries.
As Harare pursues its digitalization agenda, the proposed Russian partnership presents an opportunity to explore new technologies while building the local skills and institutional capacity needed to sustain them.
New Ziana
