The International Telecommunication Union has officially opened the Regional Development Forum (RDF) for Africa in Victoria Falls, bringing together ICT ministers, regulators, development partners, telecommunications operators and technology stakeholders from across the continent to discuss Africa’s digital future.
Hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe in partnership with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, the high-level forum is expected to shape the continent’s digital transformation agenda for the 2026-2029 period.
The gathering is centred on advancing the newly adopted ITU Regional Initiatives for Africa, with discussions focusing on digital inclusion, broadband expansion, cybersecurity, innovation, digital skills development and partnerships aimed at accelerating socio-economic development across African countries.
According to briefing notes shared during the event, the RDF serves as one of the ITU’s most important regional platforms for aligning Africa’s ICT priorities with global digital development goals. The forum also seeks to ensure that Africa’s voice is reflected in international telecommunications policy and development programmes.
Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, described the forum as a critical platform for aligning national digital priorities with development partners and stakeholders through the Partner2Connect initiative.
Dr. Zavazava said the event would further promote the implementation of outcomes from the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025, particularly initiatives designed to support inclusive digital transformation efforts across Africa.
He also expressed appreciation to the Government of Zimbabwe and POTRAZ for hosting the regional gathering in Victoria Falls.
In remarks delivered during the opening sessions, POTRAZ Director General Gift Kallisto Machengete said Africa must play a more active role in shaping emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence rather than simply consuming technologies developed elsewhere.
Dr. Machengete warned that the continent risks being excluded from the future knowledge economy if African languages, cultures and values are not reflected in AI systems and digital governance frameworks.
“We must also ensure that Artificial Intelligence systems understand African realities, African cultures, and African languages,” he said, emphasizing the importance of indigenous languages such as Shona, Kiswahili, isiZulu, Yoruba and Hausa in future AI systems.
He added that Africa’s digital transformation should not only focus on connectivity infrastructure, but also on digital sovereignty, innovation and cultural preservation.
“The challenge before us today is therefore not simply about connectivity or technology deployment. It is about digital sovereignty,” Dr. Machengete said.
The forum comes at a time when African countries are increasingly prioritising broadband expansion, digital public infrastructure, AI governance and universal access to digital services as part of broader economic transformation strategies.
The ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa is expected to produce recommendations and collaborative initiatives that will guide digital development efforts across the continent over the next four years.
