Young SADC Women Urged to Embrace AI and Innovation

Southerton Business Times

1 hour ago

3 min read

Anne Mugwagwa calls on young women in Southern Africa to embrace artificial intelligence and develop home-grown digital solutions.

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

Young women across Southern Africa are being urged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), develop digital skills and create home-grown solutions that address the region’s economic and social challenges.

The call was made following the second Global Digital Forum, held in Moscow, Russia, last week, where more than 1,300 guests and experts from 111 countries gathered to discuss artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty and international cooperation. The forum brought together technology professionals, government representatives, researchers, entrepreneurs and civil society participants. Its high-level plenary, titled “The AI Race: One Set of Rules or Many?”, featured Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko.

Speaking to Zimpapers, Ambassador of the Monomutapa Kingdom (South Africa) to Zimbabwe and Pan-African youth development specialist Anne Mugwagwa said African countries needed to play an active role in shaping global AI policies rather than simply adopting decisions made elsewhere. “Our region must move beyond simply participating in global conversations to actively shaping them,” she said.

“Africa must not simply consume the digital future. It must help create it.” For Southern Africa, the debate extends beyond technological development to include youth unemployment, digital skills, entrepreneurship and the participation of women in the emerging digital economy. Mugwagwa said young people and women should be recognised as creators and decision-makers in technology, rather than merely consumers of digital products and services.

“Our young people and women must be recognised not merely as users of technology, but as innovators, entrepreneurs and decision-makers,” she said.

She added that AI could open opportunities for women to strengthen their economic independence, assume leadership roles and participate in emerging industries. However, Mugwagwa cautioned that access to technology alone was insufficient to deliver meaningful economic benefits without the skills and resources needed to use it productively. “Having access to technology is important, but having the skills, resources and opportunities to use it productively is what creates lasting impact,” she said.

She identified affordable internet connectivity, relevant training, investment and safe digital environments as important conditions for enabling young women to participate more fully in the digital economy. Her remarks also highlighted the need to connect international discussions on AI governance with practical outcomes at community level. “International partnerships and agreements are valuable, but their real success must be measured by what they deliver to communities,” she said.

“The challenge now is to translate international dialogue into practical, measurable and inclusive development across Southern Africa.” For the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the growing use of AI presents opportunities to develop locally relevant applications in areas such as agriculture, education, healthcare and small-business development. Turning those opportunities into tangible benefits, however, requires investment in skills, infrastructure and access to technology.

Mugwagwa’s message places particular emphasis on ensuring that young women are included in this process, with the ability to develop solutions suited to their communities and participate in decisions about how emerging technologies are used. As countries debate the rules governing AI, the challenge for Southern Africa will be to ensure that digital development creates opportunities for local innovators and supports inclusive economic growth.

The forum’s discussions have therefore renewed attention on the importance of African participation in shaping the digital future and translating international cooperation into practical solutions for communities across the region.

Anne Mugwagwa urges young women across Southern Africa to embrace AI, build digital skills and develop home-grown solutions for regional challenges.

Young SADC women in AI