Government is developing a dedicated programme to help Zimbabwean digital content creators monetise their work online in a major step towards expanding the country’s digital economy under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, said her Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to dismantle long-standing obstacles that have blocked local creators from earning revenue on global digital platforms.
Speaking yesterday, Minister Mavetera revealed that the Government has already opened formal discussions with major international technology companies including Google and Meta, to explore monetisation models tailored to Zimbabwe’s needs.
“We have had a lot of conversations with the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, where we have our local digital content creators wanting to also monetise their content. We have engaged the likes of Google and the likes of Meta to find ways for our own local content creators to monetise their content. There have been limitations to that, and discussions are ongoing,” she said.
She added that the upcoming programme will create a structured framework through which local creators can earn income, whether through existing global platforms or a dedicated Zimbabwe-specific monetisation platform.
“We believe that we will have a programme dedicated to the monetisation of local content creators, having at least a platform where they can monetise the content they have,” she said.
The initiative comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s digital content landscape is expanding rapidly, with creators in social media, video streaming, music, online education and publishing facing challenges in accessing revenue streams that are easily available to creators in other regions.
Government officials say unlocking monetisation opportunities is essential for job creation, youth empowerment, innovation, and strengthening Zimbabwe’s participation in the global digital economy.
The programme aligns with NDS2’s broader goals of leveraging technology to drive inclusive economic growth, promote digital innovation and ensure emerging industries contribute meaningfully to national development.
Once rolled out, the initiative is expected to open new income pathways for local creators, positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive force in the global digital content economy.
