Tinotenda Hove – The government’s much-hyped plan to “up-skill” 1.5 million citizens under its new digital transformation programme has been met with growing skepticism, as many Zimbabweans question its timing, practicality, and true impact on the ground.

Launched with fanfare under the banner Zimbabwe Powers into the Digital Age, the initiative — spearheaded by ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera and championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration — promises to equip citizens with digital skills ranging from coding to cybersecurity. However, critics argue that the project is yet another public relations campaign that fails to address the country’s deeper economic struggles.

While officials claim the programme will boost employment, innovation, and productivity, independent analysts warn that the majority of participants may never find meaningful work in a stagnant economy that continues to shed jobs faster than it creates them. Others have accused the government of exaggerating figures and using “digital transformation” as a buzzword to mask corruption and inefficiency in public service delivery.

“The government keeps talking about Vision 2030 and digital empowerment, yet people can’t even afford data or access reliable electricity to use these so-called skills,” said one technology expert based in Harare. “It’s digital talk in an analog reality.”

Even within the civil service, doubts persist about the programme’s sustainability. With limited infrastructure, persistent power cuts, and underfunded schools, critics say the promise of a “digital Zimbabwe” is far from achievable.

As the government pours millions into training schemes and pilot projects, ordinary citizens remain skeptical — seeing yet another top-down initiative that prioritizes image over impact.

For many, the digital upskilling drive feels less like a bold step into the future and more like an expensive distraction from Zimbabwe’s pressing economic and social challenges.