Econet E-Novate Expo Highlights Zimbabwe’s Digital Leap

Econet’s E-Novate Expo showcased 5G, IoT, cloud and start-up innovation, highlighting Zimbabwe’s growing digital ecosystem, skills development drive and public-private partnerships shaping a tech-enabled future (image source)

Harare — Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s three-day E-Novate Expo at the Harare International Conference Centre offered a comprehensive showcase of the technologies and partnerships shaping the country’s digital future, drawing thousands of students, developers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The event blended product demonstrations, technical masterclasses, start-up showcases and policy dialogues, signalling a maturing tech ecosystem poised to scale.

Major global vendors including Ericsson, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE anchored the exhibition, presenting advances in network infrastructure, 5G use cases, Internet of Things deployments and consumer devices. Ericsson highlighted its long-running partnership with Econet, tracing collaboration from 2G through to current 5G trials, and showcased solutions for network densification and enterprise connectivity. Huawei demonstrated cloud and edge-computing platforms aimed at enabling local digital services, while Samsung and ZTE focused on device affordability and ecosystem integration to widen access.

Practical application emerged as a central theme. Live 5G demonstrations illustrated low-latency use cases for telemedicine, remote education and industrial automation. IoT exhibits featured smart-agriculture sensors and asset-tracking solutions with potential productivity gains for farming and logistics. Cloud providers hosted workshops on scalable architectures for start-ups, while cybersecurity panels addressed the growing need for data protection as services migrate online.

Hackathons and developer tracks attracted strong participation from young innovators. Teams competed on challenges ranging from fintech inclusion to climate-resilient agriculture, supported by mentors from multinational firms and local incubators. Several start-ups secured follow-up meetings with venture partners and corporate innovation units, reinforcing the expo’s role as a bridge between ideas and capital.

Speakers repeatedly underscored skills development and inclusive access. Ericsson’s Luis Martins called for sustained investment in digital literacy and vocational training to ensure infrastructure upgrades translate into jobs and entrepreneurship. Representatives from Huawei and Samsung echoed the need for affordable devices and localised content to drive adoption beyond urban centres. Government and regulatory panelists discussed spectrum policy, data governance and incentives to attract local cloud and data-centre investment.

Public-private collaboration also featured prominently. Sessions on smart-city pilots, e-health roll-outs and digital identity frameworks examined how coordinated policy and private capital can accelerate service delivery. Health and education stakeholders shared pilot projects extending services into remote districts, while fintech leaders showcased mobile payment innovations reducing transaction costs for small businesses.

For participants, the expo delivered tangible outcomes, including technical training certificates, investor introductions and prototype feedback. For the wider economy, observers said it signalled momentum around three critical pillars: reliable networks, affordable devices and a skilled workforce. Organisers plan to make E-Novate an annual fixture, expand regional participation and deepen industry tracks.

As Zimbabwe positions itself to capture digital opportunities, the E-Novate Expo demonstrated that the country has the technical talent, corporate partnerships and entrepreneurial energy to move from promise to delivery. Sustaining investment, scaling pilots and ensuring inclusive, resilient growth will be the next test.