Digital Monetisation Push Raises Questions About Risk, Reform and State Role

Zimbabwe’s push to unlock digital monetisation for content creators raises questions around financial reform, platform risk, data trust and the appropriate role of the state in the creator economy (image source)

Government efforts to unlock digital monetisation opportunities for Zimbabwean content creators have entered the national policy arena, following a detailed public explanation by Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana on the barriers preventing local creators from earning on global platforms. Mangwana outlined what he described as three critical “keys” to monetisation: removal of platform geo-restrictions, access to international payment gateways, and verification recognition for Zimbabwean documents. His comments followed ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera’s engagements with global technology firms, including Meta and Google.

The intervention marks a notable shift, bringing the technical realities of the creator economy into formal policy discourse. For years, Zimbabwean digital creators have operated on the margins, relying on workarounds such as VPNs, diaspora accounts and offshore intermediaries to access advertising revenue. Mangwana’s diagnosis of the problem has been widely accepted within the tech community. However, analysts caution that the proposed solution—high-level state intervention—raises important questions about risk perception, regulatory reform and the appropriate role of government.

Global platforms do not exclude countries arbitrarily. Access decisions are based on compliance, financial stability and regulatory risk. As such, when the Zimbabwean government seeks to negotiate access, it is effectively seeking endorsement of its financial and legal systems. The challenge becomes particularly acute around payment gateways. Platforms such as PayPal and Wise prioritise low-risk, automated settlement environments. Zimbabwe’s complex exchange controls and currency volatility remain structural deterrents that diplomacy alone cannot resolve.

Analysts argue that meaningful progress will require domestic financial reforms that create predictable, frictionless pathways for cross-border payments. Without this, negotiations risk addressing symptoms rather than causes. Equally sensitive is the issue of verification. While recognising national identity documents is essential for fraud prevention, creators have expressed concern that closer integration with state databases could facilitate surveillance or future taxation without adequate safeguards.

(image source)

Trust, observers say, will depend on transparency. Creators need clarity on what data is shared, how it is used, and whether verification processes will remain strictly commercial rather than regulatory or political. There is also concern about the state positioning itself as an intermediary between creators and platforms. The global digital economy thrives on decentralisation, and critics warn against licensing regimes or administrative bottlenecks that could undermine creator autonomy.

Many in the sector argue that creators themselves should be included in negotiations. Zimbabwean developers, YouTubers and influencers have spent years navigating platform rules and understand operational friction points better than policy briefs. Beyond monetisation, structural issues remain. Affordable high-speed internet, reliable electricity and enforceable intellectual property rights are prerequisites for sustainable digital production. Monetisation is the endpoint, not the foundation.

Nonetheless, observers acknowledge a positive shift in tone. The state increasingly frames the internet not solely as a regulatory challenge but as an economic resource. If negotiations reduce barriers without introducing new controls, they could materially expand opportunities for young Zimbabweans. Whether this moment results in genuine access or symbolic engagement will depend on implementation, reform and sustained dialogue with the very creators the policy aims to support.