By:
Kanto Kai Kanto
The
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has hosted its inaugural
ICT Research Writeshop, bringing together academic and research experts to
convert national ICT datasets into policy-relevant research outputs.
The
workshop convened 41 researchers from 10 universities and research
institutions, focusing on the collaborative analysis of eight major national
ICT datasets. The initiative is designed to strengthen evidence-based
policymaking by translating raw digital economy data into actionable insights
for government and industry stakeholders.
Participants
produced 15 research outputs covering key thematic areas including digital
literacy, cybersecurity, data protection, ICT applications in agriculture,
child online protection and broader digital inclusion challenges.
According
to POTRAZ, the exercise represents a shift toward data-driven governance, where
empirical research is used to inform regulatory decisions and national ICT
policy development. The Authority said the goal is to ensure that Zimbabwe’s
growing digital economy is guided by robust evidence rather than assumptions.
The
writeshop brought together experts from diverse academic disciplines, enabling
interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at improving the quality, relevance and
applicability of ICT research in Zimbabwe’s development context.
Officials
emphasized that initiatives such as this are essential for strengthening the
link between data collection, academic research and policymaking, particularly
as digital technologies become increasingly central to economic growth,
governance and social development.
POTRAZ
stated that it will continue to support similar research engagements to enhance
national capacity in ICT policy analysis and ensure that Zimbabwe’s digital
transformation is anchored in credible, locally generated evidence.
