In 1996, when the first NetOne network went live, mobile phones were a luxury few Zimbabweans could imagine. For most citizens, particularly those in rural communities, reliable communication remained a distant aspiration. Roads were the primary arteries of information, and the idea that a hand-held device could one day serve as a classroom, marketplace, bank and healthcare platform seemed fantastical. Thirty years later, as NetOne celebrates its Pearl Anniversary, the company’s story reads less like a corporate history and more like a chronicle of national transformation. The journey over three decades mirrors the global arc of telecommunications itself: from analogue voice, to digital messaging, to mobile data, and now to the immersive connectivity of 4G LTE and 5G. Each technological generation brought new possibilities and new responsibilities. What began as a pioneer in mobile connectivity has evolved into a strategic enabler of Zimbabwe’s digital economy.
When Engineer Raphael Mushanawani took the helm approximately five years ago, NetOne was technically insolvent, burdened by legacy systems and a reputation for instability. The auditor had found the company in a precarious state, having recorded exorbitantly high losses in 2021 and US$40 million in 2022. The company had become a shadow of its former self, struggling to compete in a rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape while governance issues and internal strife sapped its energy and focus. Customers had fled to competitors, and the organisation’s very survival was in question. The transformation that has occurred since then has been nothing short of remarkable. At its recent Annual General Meeting, NetOne unveiled a 62% year-on-year revenue increase, marking one of the strongest financial performances in its history. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) soared by 68%, a result Mushanawani said proved the company’s “resilient commercial model” in the face of economic volatility, currency instability and rising costs. The standout figure was a 110% leap in data revenue, underscoring a decisive shift in the country’s communications habits. As Zimbabweans turn to cloud-based platforms for work, study and entertainment, NetOne has capitalised with aggressive investment in its network, pushing into areas long underserved by reliable connectivity.
At the heart of Mushanawani’s strategic intent is an audacious goal: transforming NetOne into a US$1 billion company by 2029. This represents a massive leap from the projected US$160 million revenue in 2024, requiring nearly a sixfold increase over five years. “We want to be the number one network. We are seeing ourselves being a US$1 billion company within the next five years,” Mushanawani declared. Growth will revolve around surging data demand, retiring legacy technologies, and expanding 4G and 5G capabilities. The target, while ambitious, is increasingly within reach. Revenue in 2025 to reached US$210 million, and the company’s aggressive infrastructure rollout is laying the foundation for sustained growth. In the past 12 months alone, NetOne deployed 86 new base station sites nationwide, including 264 LTE installations and 16 with full 5G capability. The move into 5G, still in its infancy in Zimbabwe, positions NetOne at the frontier of future technologies — from high-definition streaming and virtual conferencing to industrial IoT and precision agriculture. While consumer adoption of 5G depends on device affordability, the investment sets the foundation for long-term revenue growth in enterprise and public sector markets.
NetOne’s transformation has unfolded within the broader framework of President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, the National Development Strategies, and the establishment of the Mutapa Investment Fund. The company has embraced this responsibility with purpose, aligning its investments and innovation programmes with the vision of building an empowered, prosperous and digitally connected upper-middle-income society. The company now accounts for 46.14% of Zimbabwe’s rural base stations, making it one of the largest contributors to rural network infrastructure development in the country. This rural footprint is helping to bridge the digital divide by connecting previously underserved communities to education, healthcare information, financial services and digital commerce opportunities. During the fourth quarter of 2025, NetOne added 89 LTE base stations and increased its 5G sites from 21 to 26. Data traffic rose by 18.5%, from 25.29 billion megabytes to 29.97 billion megabytes, while the active subscriber base expanded from 4,062,894 to 4,101,492.
One of the most tangible expressions of NetOne’s social impact under Mushanawani’s leadership is the OneHealth–Telehealth Initiative which is a brainchild of Her Excellence The First Lady of the Republic Of Zimbabwe Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. This initiative was officially launched in May 2024 at Precab by His Excellence The President of The Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. In October 2025, the company launched a groundbreaking Virtual Telemedicine Hospital in Ntunungwe, Matabeleland South, establishing one of Zimbabwe’s first fully digital rural healthcare hubs. “This Virtual Telemedicine Hospital is not just a booth — it is a hospital without walls; a medical bridge between Ntunungwe and the rest of Zimbabwe,” Mushanawani declared at the launch. The facility allows patients to consult doctors hundreds of kilometres away, receive immediate medical guidance, and obtain advanced diagnostics without leaving their village. “For many years, communities like Ntunungwe have faced challenges in accessing healthcare. Mothers have travelled long distances with sick children. The elderly have endured pain without immediate help. But today, we stand together to say: help has come home,” Mushanawani said.
As of July 2025, NetOne has established over 20 operational telehealth sites across Zimbabwe, with three in Matabeleland and more planned for Beitbridge and Gwanda. Each booth is equipped with smart health kits, secure video conferencing for remote consultations, cameras for visual diagnosis, multilingual interfaces, and on-site support by trained nurses or community health workers. The initiative aligns closely with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which seek to expand inclusion and drive socio-economic development. Analysts say the virtual hospital sets a new benchmark for digital health in sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating how telecom infrastructure can be leveraged to deliver critical public services.
Beyond healthcare, NetOne has also launched Smart Agriculture and Smart Mining programmes that provide mobile-based weather analytics, digital mapping, and claim management tools. The company has partnered with the Ministry of Youth to roll out a digital skills drive designed to create economic opportunities for young people. “Technology is now the new pickaxe,” Mushanawani has said. Digital surveying, claim management, and prospecting tools are enabling young Zimbabweans to participate in the mining value chain responsibly and efficiently. These innovations are breaking historical barriers, creating new opportunities where once there were limits. The company is also strengthening international connectivity through strategic roaming partnerships that facilitate trade, tourism, investment and regional integration.
For NetOne, corporate social responsibility is not an obligation but “a commitment to nation-building.” Guided by the principle of leaving no one and no place behind, the organisation has consistently invested in initiatives that improve lives and strengthen communities. The company has equipped schools with computers and digital learning tools, rehabilitated school buildings, implemented solar-powered solutions in underserved communities, and established nutritional gardens to promote food security and sustainable livelihoods. NetOne has also championed programmes supporting persons with albinism and taken a leadership role in anti-drug and substance abuse campaigns targeting youths. “Every learner empowered, every community connected, every vulnerable citizen supported and every opportunity created contributes towards a stronger Zimbabwe,” the company said.
In July 2025, NetOne made a deliberate move to ensure that no one and no place is left behind by undertaking a comprehensive transformation of Mtetengwe Primary School in Beitbridge. The official handover, graced by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, saw the school receive arenovated eight-classroom block, a 40-unit solar-powered computer laboratory, a borehole and a nutritional garden. NetOne CEO Raphael Mushanawani emphasised that the interventions were “not symbolic—they are substantive,” reflecting the company’s commitment to lasting change. The initiative aligned with NDS1 pillars on human capital development and digital innovation, while contributing to SDG 4, SDG 6 and SDG 10. Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri also attended, highlighting the importance of a united response to drug abuse.
Mushanawani’s transformative leadership has not gone unnoticed. He has been crowned the Overall Platinum Winner at the Zimbabwe CEOs Network Awards and received the prestigious Business Leader of the Year 2025 award from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC). The ZNCC described him as “a leader who leads with purpose and passion,” highlighting his impact not just within NetOne but on the national economy at large. In 2024, he also received the ZNCC Business Leader of the Year award, while NetOne bagged the Innovation Award for its contributions to the sector. “I receive this recognition with humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility,” Mushanawani said. “While the award bears my name, it is a reflection of the collective efforts of the NetOne family, our Board of Directors, our valued customers, and all stakeholders who continue to believe in our vision.”
As NetOne enters its fourth decade, its mission remains clear: to connect more people, empower more communities, unlock more opportunities and drive Zimbabwe’s digital transformation. “The first thirty years were about connecting Zimbabwe. The next thirty years will be about empowering Zimbabwe to thrive in the digital age,” the company said. Today, NetOne stands as more than a telecommunications operator. It is a national enabler, a technology partner, a catalyst for economic growth, and a bridge connecting communities to opportunities. Under the steady hand of Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, a once-turbulent organisation has found calm waters and is sailing confidently toward a billion-dollar horizon — proving that with vision, discipline, and a commitment to people, even the most challenging turnaround is possible.
